Page 2 - 2012 Paganninawan 2nd Quarter Special Issue

Paganninawan: The Offi cial Newsletter of DILG Region 1 2012

Performance Challenge Fund: Success Story

“PCF: Key to Expanded Health Services of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur”

As they always say, “Health is Wealth”. There is
also a common belief that, the healthier a
person, the more productive and competitive he is;
thus, he is considered an asset of the community.

Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the
Local Government Code of 1991 mandated
every Local Government Units (LGUs) to
extend basic health services to its constituents
and ensure that health and safety is
promoted. Included to this mandate is the
provision and sustainability of basic health
facilities, advocacy campaign on the promotion of
healthy lifestyle, maternal and childcare protection,
and nutrition program, among others.

Likewise, the realization of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) is a joint
undertaking of the national government
and LGUs. They (LGUs) hold a very critical
role in addressing the MDGs especially on the
reduction of child mortality, improvement of
maternal health care, and combat HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other infectious diseases. These concerns
focus on health that every established Rural Health
Units (RHUs) should perform.

The Municipality of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur has
its Rural Health Building, which, at the same
time serves as the Municipal Health Offi ce (MHO).
This is where the residents of the municipality go
for medical consultations and other health
services. Before its completion in 2011-2012, the
said facility could not accommodate all clients.
The Municipality started renovating the
building in the last quarter of 2010. However,
due to insuffi cient funds, the LGU was unable to
complete the renovation. Despite the condition,
the MHO occupied the building to continuously
deliver health services.

In 2011, when Cervantes was stamped with the Seal of
Good Housekeeping (SGH), the local offi cials
realized their vision of a complete and
functional RHU, with the PhP1M Performance
Challenge Fund (PCF) and the PhP1.590M
counterpart from the LGU RA 7171 share.

The completion of the RHU Building opened
new opportunities to provide additional
health services, which, they were unable to
provide in the previous years. According to the
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