SURIGAO DEL NORTE — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday thanked the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) in this province for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the good health of the people in the communities.

“Nakabalo ako sa inyong mga sakripisyo ug ginaatubang nga mga kalisdanan sa inyong pagpanerbisyo sa mga komunidad — ang uban niini, dili maabot kung dili kamo mobaktas og pila ka oras o mosakay og habal-habal (I know your sacrifices and the difficulties you face in serving the communities — some of them, cannot be reached unless you walk for several hours or ride a habal-habal),” Duterte said during the Barangday Health Workers Province Wide Convention at the Surigao Provincial Gymnasium here.

“Kuyog ang opisyal sa barangay, kamo ang nahimong representante sa atong gobyerno sa mga komunidad sa kabukiran ug uban pang dapit nga lisod sudlon. (Together with the barangay officials, you have become the representatives of our government in the communities in the mountains and other places that are difficult to enter),” she added.

Duterte, who was guest of honor and speaker in the event, also recognized how BHWs took the initiative to educate the community's residents on the value of children's nutrition and precautionary measures against different diseases.

“Sa tanang panahon, anaa kamo sa mga komunidad — galubog kuyog ang katawhan ilabi na gayud sa mga panahon sa kalisod ug mga pagsulay. (At all times, you are in the community — together with the people especially in times of trouble and trials),” Duterte said.

Duterte also shared the Office of the Vice President’s Medical and Burial (MAB) assistance project, and its availability in this province through the OVP Surigao Satellite Office in Tandag City.

The Caraga Medical Center, Surigao Doctors Hospital, Saint Paul Surigao University Hospital, Surigao Medical Center, and Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital in this province, are among the 343 public and private partner hospitals and dialysis centers of the OVP nationwide.

“Sa pagkakaron, ang atong Satellite Office sa Tandag nakahimo na og 3,107 Medical Assistance services, naka-isyu og 496 Guarantee Letters sa mga partner hospitals, ug nakapaabot og hinabang sa mga residente sa Mainit, Surigao del Norte (So far, our Satellite Office in Tandag has provided 3,107 Medical Assistance services, issued 496 Guarantee Letters to partner hospitals, and provided assistance to the residents of Mainit, Surigao del Norte),” she added.

Medical and burial assistance are among the social services implemented by the OVP, and these have been the most requested aid of marginalized Filipinos.

Acknowledging the importance of livelihood in sustaining a family’s day-to-day needs, Duterte also shared the OVP’s Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD) project, which capacitates interested individuals to properly manage business and receive a starting capital for their desired venture.

The MTD aims to assist women and members of the LBBTQI+ by augmenting their daily income, making them economically empowered and independent. It was one of Duterte’s flagship projects when she was still mayor of Davao City.

The OVP has adopted the project for nationwide implementation.

Duterte, who is also Education Secretary, also called on parents to make sure their children are in school, and protect them from criminality, drugs, insurgency and terrorism that may destroy their dreams and their future.

“Tungod kay anaa man kamo sa mga komunidad, tabang sab kamo sa pagpasabot sa importansya nga magpalayo ang mga kabataan sa pwersa nga modaot sa ilang kaugmaon — ang ilegal nga droga (Since you are already in the communities, I urge you to help explain the importance of keeping children away from the force that will destroy their future such as illegal drugs),” Duterte said.

“Ang usa pa sa atong panawagan — na malayo ang atong kabataan sa pagpang-haylo ug pagpang-recruit sa New People’s Army (Another call is to keep our children away from being seduced and recruited by the New People's Army),” she added.

She also shared the department’s MATATAG agenda in basic education, which hones children to be patriotic and become productive, reliable, and holistic pillars of nation building.

“Pinaagi niini, atong ginalantaw nga ang Pilipinas mahimong Bansang Makabata — o usa ka nasud nga gabarog alang sa kaugmaon sa kabataan (Through this, we envision that the Philippines will become a Youthful Nation — or a country that will stand for the future of children),” Duterte said.

“Ug ang atong mga kabataan, madako nga mga Batang Makabansa — o mga indibidwal nga dunay pagmamahal sa atong nasud (And our children will grow up as individuals who love our country,” she added. OVP MEDIA