by: Bernadine Astillero-Gabawan
Bayog, Zamboanga del
Sur, 26 June (PIA) -- Some 650 residents of Bayog, this province were benefited
from the Medical and Dental Mission held at Barangay Bobuan, this municipality
last Saturday (June 23, 2012).
This mission was brought
to the indigenous cultural community/indigenous peoples of the Subanen Tribe of
Barangays Liba, Conacon, Bobuan, Datagan, Bantal, Canoayan and Matin-ao, as
social commitment of the mining companies operating in the area such as the Bayog 9 Metals Corporation, Alpha First Asia
Mining Corporation, and Alpha Prime Pacific Mining Corporation in coordination
with the Local Government Unit under the stewardship of Mayor Leonardo Babasa,
Jr.
Services offered were
consultations, dental, giving of free medicines, haircut and picture taking for
the municipal ID System by some employees of Barangay Affairs Office of this
LGU.
The medical staff is composed of Dr. Bernie Adomon, Dr. Patrick
Toledo - Municipal Health Officer of the Municipality of Dumalinao, Dr. Robert
Barcela – Zamboanga del Sur Dental Society, Dr. Willa Barcela – Ozamis City Health
Center, Dr. Elvie Alvaira, Dr. Cora Punzalan – President, ZdS Dental Society
together with the staff of the Rural Health Unit of LGU-Bayog.
A total of 540 residents who took advantage of the free
consultation and medicines while 85 availed the dental services.
Residents felt blessed enough with these services. According to
Hon. Virginia Entag, Barangay Chairman of Matin-ao, “Dako kaayo among pasalamat
nga ang mga lumulopyo sa among barangay naka avail sa mga serbisyo nga dugay na
nga gisaad niining mga mining companies.” (We express our thanks and
appreciation that the residents of our barangay were able to avail the services
which was promised by the mining companies since then) She added, “dako kaayo
kining mahimong tabang sa among mga panglawasnong panginahanglanon” (It’s a big
help to our health needs)
On the other hand, a short program and a meeting of tribal leaders
was conducted and attended by the some barangay and municipal officials
represented by Hon. Celso Matias, SB Member, mining officials, officers of the
mining companies, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP represented by Mercilyn Hatad OIC
Provincial Officer and Dr. Roberto Barcela, Jr., Guipos District.
During the program, Matias said, the local chief executive, acknowledged and recognized this aid especially
on health and medicines. He further said
that the Mayor is very supportive to the mining firms in terms of this program
because this is a big help or assistance to the IPs since they could not afford to buy these medicines.
Romeo Fernando, chief operations officer of Bayog 9 assured the
people that this is not the end, but this is just the beginning of our social
commitment in the area.” (BAG/PIO-Bayog/CAL/PIA9)