The good news was not that Gov. Edgar Chatto’s much-publicized HEAT Caravan hit Carmen town. What was news worthy was that it invaded behind enemy lines, the turf of his nemesis Carmen Mayor Conchita Toribio de los Reyes. Chatto and de los Reyes are locked in a bitter fight for the gubernatorial post. Chatto is running for re-election while Mayor de los Reyes is challenging him. The HEAT Caravan in Carmen was the scenario that greeted the people of the town Thursday who trooped in droves to the Cong. Toribio Memorial Hospital to partake of what the medical and dental mission was in store for them. The most encouraging remarks that the HEAT Caravan elicited were that of Dr. Asuncion Anden, regional director of the department of health, who snapped “these are the kind of leaders you should elect”, referring in particular to Gov. Chatto. During the same occasion, the provincial government supported by the DOH has simultaneously launched its health programs in Carmen Thursday, exactly a week earlier for the monthly People’s Day schedule of the governor in the town.

Gov. Chatto’s People’s Day is the governor’s appointed service time for the people: at the Provincial Capitol, in Talibon, in Jagna and in Carmen. Capitol officials led by Gov. Chatto, Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim, Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee chair for Health, Board Member Yul Lopez, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, and First Lady Pureza Veloso-Chatto, warmly welcomed DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Anden who came over to Bohol despite the very short notice and invitation given by the Chatto-Lim Administration. Dr. Anden admitted to the huge horde of people present that their office had never turned down any request for support from the incumbent Bohol provincial leadership. “Kining Bohol lahi jud ang dating sa amo sa region. Kay every time naa’y activity ang province (Bohol), mao jud na among feeling: overwhelmed,” Dir. Anden happily informed the crowd. (We in the regional office have a distinct impression for Bohol. Every time you have activities, we feel overwhelmed). “You are a very good partner in health reforms and health development in the region,” Dir. Anden proudly added. The “healthful” day saw the launching of Bohol’s Medical-Dental-Eyesight Mission; the province’s Unified Health Management Information System (UHMIS); our Comprehensive Hospital Modernization Program for Bohol’s ten district hospitals situated in Carmen, Jagna, Loon, Inabanga, Maribojoc, Candijay, Clarin, Carlos P. Garcia, Talibon and Catigbian; the turn-over of two dialysis machines donated by the Home Reach Foundation through the Bohol Medical Care Institute (BMCI) for the Dialysis Center of Carmen District Hospital a.k.a. Cong. Simeon G. Toribio Memorial Hospital, wherein a huge staff will soon undergo extensive training; and, the blessing and turn-over of its new Pharmacy Building.

In addition to the aforementioned milestones, the joint efforts of the Chatto-Lim Administration and the DOH also witnessed the blessing and inauguration of said hospital’s cistern and covered walk connecting all its structures, the repair and renovation of its Administration Building, the construction of additional wards, operating room and delivery room, the improvement of the hospital’s water system and the upgrading of its kitchen facilities to pass DOH standards, and the purchase and installation of additional hospital equipment for its operating and delivery rooms. To give emphasis to the occasion and show that they both mean serious health care for Boholanos, Gov. Chatto and Dir. Anden joined forces to bring to Carmen the governor’s brainchild, the Bohol HEAT Caravan, giving healthy and pure public service to Carmenanons. The now widely-renowned HEAT Caravan of the Chatto-Lim Administration is an every other month whole-day affair wherein local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), where even differently-abled persons and the private sector converge in a certain town in Bohol, giving free services to the people; reaching out, leaving services in the people’s midst, thus enabling and empowering them down to the grass roots level.

HEAT Bohol comprehensively means Health and Sanitation, Education and Technology, Agriculture and Food Security, Tourism and Livelihood. To date, participating agencies has already reached more than ninety in number with the program’s beneficiaries reaching almost 130,000 constituents. And for the record, more and more local, national and international agencies and private sector groups are offering free services to have the chance to serve more Boholanos, creditably expressing that the spirit of volunteerism has never been more alive in Bohol. However, Gov. Chatto has already clarified since Day 1 that “these free services are not meant as dole outs but as an initial push so that people could see and recognize their capabilities, making them understand that they could do better.” “All towns under the UHMIS,” Gov. Chatto said, “have already received one set of computers each from the provincial government, with all-out support from the DOH under its Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ) program.” These ILHZs will then help guarantee the vitality of the Philippine Health Sector Reform in ensuring adequacy, accessibility, efficiency and high quality health services that are equitable which will maximize private sector participation.

Gov. Chatto believes that these ILHZs could serve as very important conduits for health and development, making sure that financial assistance from the national government reaches the people. Consequently, Carmen Hospital Chief Dr. Jaime Calamba proudly told everyone that the provincial government, with overwhelming support from the DOH, has shelled out P150M for the renovation and modernization of Bohol’s ten district hospitals. Moreover, the subsequent distribution of health kits to Carmen’s 245 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and the unveiling of the province’s Comprehensive Hospital Modernization Program for the ten district hospitals during the activity brought about thunderous cheers and a deafening applause from the people of Carmen signaling “the beginning of a new dawn” of health services in Bohol. Positively beaming, Dir. Anden informed everyone that “the Universal Healthcare or Kalusugang Pangkalahatan is alive in Bohol; it is happening in Bohol.” Under Sec. Enrique Ona’s competent leadership, the DOH’s three goals are: a responsive health system ensuring that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015 are achieved, that an equitable financing for health is happening, and that, it is happening today. Dir. Anden gave her word that Bohol’s ILHZs will have its own office where the DOH will give its own counterpart.

She also congratulates the Boholanos for being very lucky in having the incumbent Provincial Government Leadership led by Gov. Chatto. “These are the kind of leaders you should elect,” Dir. Anden emphatically said. “Sus, kung makabotar lang ko!” (If only I could vote!), clearly giving the hint how she wanted to be able to cast her vote in Bohol, showing her deep belief and trust in Gov. Edgar M. Chatto’s brand of leadership, which has already bestowed countless laurels for Bohol, and for the numerous awards the province has already received for being aptly chosen and named by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the Best-Governed Province in the Philippines twice, that is, for 2010 and 2011, respectively, just another year short of bagging the Hall of Fame Award in the same category. (jlv/EDCom)