Senator Francis Tolentino treated Dagupeños with Valentine’s Day surprises during his visit to the city on February 14 by distributing cash grants thru the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program and wheelchairs to indigent patients. The lawmaker also offered free legal advice and notarial services courtesy of the Philippine Legal Justice Center. Mayor Belen Fernandez welcomed Sen. Tolentino’s various contributions to Dagupan including the upgrading of roads and drainages even as the senator hailed the mayor’s priority projects for health care.
Category: Press Release
Dagupan City’s status as premier health care provider in Northern Luzon has been proven anew with the inauguration of the Region 1 Medical Center’s (R1MC) Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the groundbreaking of its Nuclear Medicine Facility on February 13 at the R1MC Bonuan Binloc.
Mayor Belen Fernandez recognized the significant contribution of the R1MC ably led by Medical Center Chief Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia, in putting a premium on healthcare delivery and services to give utmost importance to people’s lives.
“The Center for Disease Prevention and Control shall well serve as a guide to formulate more effective strategies to address the challenges in the healthcare industry and in order for the government and stakeholders to prepare for any potential health threat, comparable to the global-scale impact of COVID-19,” she stated.
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire joined the event as she informed that the nuclear center includes a cancer institute and a dermatology center to cater to the extensive needs of patients who come to R1MC even from different parts of the region.
Important personalities instrumental to the establishment of R1MC’s new structures also graced the occasion namely, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., former 4th District Representative Manay Gina de Venecia, 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia and DOH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco.
A huge crowd of students from Dagupan’s public and private schools, government employees, barangay councils and volunteers display an act of oneness as they participate in a UNITY WALK from the Dagupan City Transport Terminal to the CSI Stadia on Feb. 5.
A prelude to the opening of the annual CHILDREN’S SUMMIT with the DEPED scheduled from Feb. 5-7 with some 20,000 participants, the event seeks to promote actions for the 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS of the UNITED NATIONS.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez has emphasized the need to build stronger alliances in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN) and for young leaders to understand their important role in the UN global agenda during the opening of the 2024 Children’s Summit slated from February 5 to 7 at CSI Stadia.
Prior to the opening ceremony, a ‘Unity Walk’ composed of students from public and private schools; government officials, heads and employees; barangay councils, event sponsors and volunteers was held starting at the Dagupan City Transport Terminal up to the Stadia to display Dagupan’s unity in support of the SDG.
Centered on the theme: ‘Celebrating Children’s Ideas and Actions for United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals’, the three-day event spearheaded by the Department of Education Schools Division Office in coordination with the city government features various activities such as spelling bee, quiz bee, essay writing, exhibits, talk show, sandwich-making, vegetable salad-making, poster-making, graphic and design with some 20,000 participants.
“The SDG aims to effect change, fight poverty and achieve progress by year 2030 and ensuring that no one is left behind,” Mayor Fernandez stated.
A highlight of the affair was a multi-stakeholder signing of partnership to symbolize Dagupan’s commitment to achieve the 17 SDGs that are as follows: No Poverty; Zero Hunger; Good Health and Well-Being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Reduced Inequalities; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; Life on Land; Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and Partnerships for the Goals.
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A call to curb the rate of victims of the rabies virus in Dagupan City was launched on February 2, thru Mayor Belen Fernandez’s ‘Saving Max’ project in coordination with the City Veterinary Office.
The activity was held in barangay Bonuan Gueset with the support of the Barangay Council led by Captain Noel Bumanglag, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President Councilor Bradley Benavides, Bonuan Gueset SK Chairperson Tala Paras and Bonuan Binloc SK President Klee Alcaide.
According to the mayor, records show that approximately 100 to 200 patients fall victim to animal bites, mostly from dogs and cats, as she advised residents to report any animal concern to the Saving Max Hotline Number 0985 453 5555 to help promote animal welfare.
Anti-rabies injections and consultations were also provided during the activity with Dr. Michael Maramba of the City Veterinary Office.
Dagupan City’s ‘Balay Silangan’, a reformation facility for drug offenders, was inaugurated on January 26 in barangay Poblacion Oeste as part of the government’s efforts in curtailing the illegal drug trade and aiming for drug clearance among the 31 barangays in Dagupan.
Mayor Belen Fernandez expressed gratitude to law enforcement and government agencies in the realization of the project to give chance to drug offenders in rehabilitating their lives.
Among the city’s partners are the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry and Bureau of Fire Protection. Financial assistance worth 5,000 pesos and grocery items were handed over to the families of the Balay Silangan clients as part of the program.
Mayor Belen Fernandez has presented six awards received by Dagupan City during the Gawad Kalusugan 2023 conducted by the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Region 1 last December 15, 2023 at Thunderbird Resort Poro Point Free Port Zone in San Fernando City, La Union.
The local chief executive announced the city’s latest achievement during the regular flag raising ceremony of city government employees on January 8 at the City Plaza where she expressed gratitude to the DOH for recognizing Dagupan’s health care delivery programs and commended the unwavering dedication of all health care workers in performing their respective tasks.
City Health Officer Dr. Ophelia Terrado received the awards on behalf of Mayor Fernandez.
Dagupan emerged as champion with 70,000 pesos cash prize in the Sandugo Award of the Bannuar Iti Salun -At Award because of its involvement and commitment in the implementation of blood programs where the city exceeded one percent blood donation rate and collected 3,223 blood units under the category of cities/municipalities greater than 75,000 population for calendar year 2022.
Also under the Bannuar award, the city garnered 3rd place for the Universal Health Care (UHC) Arangkada Award for its outstanding support in the implementation of the UHC vision with a cash prize of 35,000 pesos.
Dagupan also clinched four Palbayani Awards one of which is the Good Practices in Health Award because of the city’s identification, documentation and replication of good practices on health and obtaining a score of 100% on good practice criteria initial screening with 50,000 pesos in cash prize.
Part of this is attributed to the deployment of one Barangay Nurse for each of the city’s 31 barangays who function efficiently in coordination with barangay health workers, barangay service point officers, barangay nutrition scholars and the barangay council, according to Mayor Fernandez.
Moreover, the Dagupan City Health Office bagged a Palbayani Award as Top Implementer on Pharmaceutical Management for its outstanding support and commitment in the implementation of pharmaceutical management program and antimicrobial stewardship program, with a cash prize of 30,000 pesos.
Another Palbayani Award was conferred to the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) for its outstanding practices as functional CESU and its exemplary surveillance response in preventive outbreaks, with 20,000 pesos cash prize and finally, also under the Palbayani Award is the Chikiting Ligtas Lakas Award for Dagupan in its support to the DOH’s Measles Rubella -Oral Polio Vaccine -Supplemental Immunization Activity where the city achieved the highest coverage of eligible children during the activity, bagging a cash prize of 20,000 pesos.
Dagupan City has paid tribute anew to the memory and greatness of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during the 79th Luzon Landing Anniversary of the famed United States commander and his men at Bonuan Tondaligan Blue Beach, the site believed to be the actual location where they landed to pursue their mission in liberating the Philippines from Japanese colonization.
Mayor Belen Fernandez led the early morning event on January 9 at the refurbished MacArthur Park as she underscored the significance of emulating the good deeds of MacArthur and other war heroes and building a culture of integrity and accountability in public office.
“Gen. Douglas MacArthur had said his famous line ‘I shall return.’ For me I say, I have returned to help the people of Dagupan,” the local chief executive stated.
Highlight of the affair was a reenactment of the Luzon Landing with MacArthur, U.S. soldiers and Bonuan villagers which was followed by floral offerings at the memorial site by the different offices, government agencies, barangay councils, civil society groups, non-government organizations and other stakeholders.
Nalalapit na ang operasyon ng Balay Silangan na magsisilbing reformation facility ng mga indibidwal na apektado ng ilegal na droga tungo sa pagbabalik sa normal na pamumuhay.
Kaugnay nito ay sumailalim na ang mga barangay officials sa BDCP Orientation sa pangangasiwa ng PDEA Provincial Office sa pangunguna ni Pangasinan Provincial Director Retchie Camacho, DILG Dagupan CLGOO Royolita Rosario, Dagupan PNP sa pamumuno ni PtCol Brendon Palisoc, at ng City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Dito ay muli ring nagkaroon ng pag uusap para sa mga kinakailangan pang ihanda sa mas pinagtibay na drug reformation program sa Dagupan.
Ayon kay Mayor Belen Fernandez, mahalaga ito dahil isa sa requirements para sa drug clearing operations ng PDEA ay ang establishment ng isang Balay Silangan.
Inaasahan din ng siyudad ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa tungo sa pagiging Drug-Free City at ito, ayon sa alkalde ay kinakailangang magsisimula sa bawat barangay.
Maliban sa paglalaan ng pasilidad para sa Balay Silangan na akma sa requirements ng PDEA, ang siyudad ay handa rin niyang maglaan ng tulong pinansyal bilang suporta sa pamilya ng drug offenders habang sumasailalim sa rehabilitasyon at livelihood assistance matapos ang naturang rehab intervention.
Mayor Belen Fernandez, along with City Engineer Officer-in-Charge Josephine Corpuz, makes an early morning inspection on the progress of the road elevation and upgrading of drainage system project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 1, particularly along the commercial district of Arellano St. in barangay Pantal going to the downtown area on January 3. The mayor informed business owners affected by the project that they can experience some leeway on their operations until construction works resume this January 6 after the workers’ holiday break. The local chief executive had previously requested the DPWH to fast track the project which is part of the flood mitigation program of the city.
Nearly 8,000 Dagupeños have availed of free pneumonia and flu vaccines being offered under the ‘Kalusugan at Kaligtasan for All’ program of Mayor Belen Fernandez since last year, in coordination with the City Health Office and the Department of Health Region 1.
Some 5,200 residents aged 18 and above availed of flu shots beginning September 2023 to January 4 this year while 2,716 senior citizens received the pneumococcal vaccine from July 2023 to January 4.
Since early this year, Mayor Fernandez has led the promotion of the vaccination activity in the different barangays with the support of barangay councils in a bid to make health care delivery more accessible to the residents, especially among the elderly who mostly struggle to travel to health centers.
Consequently, residents were grateful for the money-saving free vaccination activity which is in line with the Universal Health Care Law to provide quality health care for all Filipinos and the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations with focus on ‘Goal 3: Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for all Ages’.
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FIRST MASS OF 2024
Mayor Belen Fernandez leads city officials and employees as they fervently listen to the gospel during a thanksgiving mass officiated by Rev. Msgr. Manuel Bravo Jr. of St. John the Evangelist Parish on January 2 at the City Plaza to usher in the new year with gratitude and hope for more growth and development in Dagupan.