Bohol wins digital, health governance awards

 TAGBILARAN CITY – Bohol through its Provincial Government of Bohol -Unified System (PGBh-US) placed second in the "Best in LGU Internal Processes (G21) Award" of the 2020 Digital Governance Award given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).

According to Ven Arigo of the Provincial Information and Media Relations (PRIMER) that the award recognized local government units (LGUs) with the best practices in using ICT in their operations and delivery of public services.  Provincial Planning and Development Officer John Titus Vistal on behalf of Gov. Arthur Yap, received the award in a virtual honoring ceremony, Friday December 11.

Arigo explained that the PGBh-US is an innovative management modular-based information system approach that connects all components of the necessary operation in providing services to internal clients.

It is an in-house system conceptualized and brewed by the PGBh Bohol Information and Communications Technology Unit (BICTU) in collaboration with the Local Finance Committee (LFC) stakeholders that included the Provincial Accounting Office (PAO), Provincial Treasurer's Office (PTO), Provincial Budget and Management Office (PBMO), and Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO), Arigo bared.

Arigo added that the Digital Governance Award is an annual search to stimulate e-governance, particularly at the local level and enable LGUs to become catalysts of change.  For the past six months, some improvements or iterations had been incorporated not directly to the PGBh-US but to fit and adapt to the situation granting efficacy of time in addressing the pandemic concerns.

In similar developments, Bohol province was also declared by the Department of Health (DOH) as third winner in the region for its 2020 Performance-Based Incentive Award for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).

DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas invited Yap and Provincial Health Officer Reymoses Cabagnot to the Virtual Local Health Systems Awarding of the DOH Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CVCHD) also on Friday.

“The award recognized the dedication, passion, unending support and extensive efforts of our partners in the delivery of quality health services in addressing health inequities and boosting universal health care among Filipinos," Bernadas said in his opening message during the award event.

Meanwhile, governor Yap announced to increase the Capitol monthly honorarium for the BHWs all over the province from the P500 per barangay to P150 per BHW.  He repeatedly announced this over the weekend while distributing their honorarium for the third quarter of this year through the BHW local chapter presidents, Arigo bared.

There are presently more than 8,100 BHWs distributed in the province’s 1,109 barangays in 47 towns and in Tagbilaran City.

Yap and Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos cited the growing essential role and services of the BHWs, especially amid the pandemic because of their direct grassroot community link. Yap asked them to help in encouraging the people to cultivate and grow herbal-medicinal plants, particularly those approved by the authorities like the DOH.

Months before the award for the BHW program, the DOH and National Nutrition Council (NNC) adjudged Bohol's milk feeding program for undernourished children of tender ages the best anti-COVID intervention in Central Visayas. (Photos: Province of Bohol/Ven Arigo)