ILOILO – The provincial government has been named the Most Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) in Western Visayas for its exceptional contributions to improved health outcomes and robust local health systems.
The Department of Health (DOH) – Western Visayas led by Regional Director Adriano Suba-a, conferred the award during the 2024 Local Health Systems Awards on November 8 at Smallville 21, Iloilo City.
The recognition, which included a plaque of recognition and a P600,000 cash prize, was received by Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares- Quiñon, Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Wendel Tupas-Marcelo, Dr. Rodney Labis of IPHO’s Health Service Delivery Division, and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo Chapter president Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez of San Enrique town.
Iloilo was also awarded a plaque for “Good Practice in Health 2024” for various impactful health initiatives.
The province topped several program categories, underscoring its commitment to Ilonggo health:
* Violence and Injury Prevention Program – achieved a road traffic death rate of 2%, making it the top-performing province
* Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit – attained a 100% fully functional status for epidemiology, surveillance, and health statistics
* National Voluntary Blood Services Program – recognized for its “Safe Blood for All” initiative, meeting the 1% blood donation rate performance indicator
* National Rabies Prevention and Control Program – recorded the highest number of declared rabies-free areas, with 32 island barangays and islets
* Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) – acknowledged for providing technical support to various agencies in institutionalizing DRRM-H across the province
* Orally Fit Children Program – achieved a 102.68% success rate in ensuring oral fitness for children aged 12-59 months
Additionally, the Iloilo Provincial Government Family Planning Training Center was honored as the first Provincial Health Office in the country recognized as a training provider for modern family planning services in the region, with a P500,000 cash grant.
Iloilo’s Health Promotion Unit was commended for its unwavering commitment to environmental health initiatives, and the province reached a functional level in the Local Health System – Minimum Level Service Delivery 3 (LHS-ML SD3).
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., receiving the awards at a flag ceremony on November 11, emphasized that beyond accolades, the provincial government remains focused on delivering tangible healthcare improvements to its citizens./PN
