Courtesy Call to Barangay Local Government Unit

Activity: Short Talk with MHO. The early morning experience with Municipal Health Officer Dr. Prosperidad Silveron was one of the things that I like most about today's activities.  I finally had the chance to talk with her about all the things that I might do for the whole period of my stay. She said she was really very busy these past few days and she even stressed out how hard it is for her to be wide awake the other nights due to series of activities that have been lining up. I was really happy that at last I really presented my major activities. The planned courtesy call wasn’t conducted due busy schedules of the mayor. However, the following outputs have been achieved after a short meeting. These are the following;

• Identified the main goal of MHO in Tb Control (Success Rate)
• Arrangements of Courtesy Call to Mayor (availability)
• Reconciliation of TB data to improve recording system in identifying  actual tb cases all forms.
• Validated the availability of health data and other TB related statistics.

I decided to conduct the barangay courtesy call to two of the most nearest barangay and ask for  the approval of the MHO. Fortunately, she permitted me. The two barangays  situated along  the highway became the first two areas I visited  today. I began my journey at around 11 am.

Brgy. Cabagayan

Reaching the area was quite easy due to good access of vehicles whether it is a van, a "skylab" or a bus. I preferred to take a van that time as recommended by one of the RHU staff in order to save transportation expenses. I filled my empty stomach before going to the barangay hall, prepared the brochure, and myself of course. Present during my visit were only the SPES scholars, barangay record keeper and Botika ng Barangay Staff. The barangay officials are currently attending seminar at Davao City about the procurement and budgeting. With courage, I began to speak and introduced myself, talked about the project and its main goal or purpose. I stayed for 1 and a half hour and just kept asking  relevant questions. I have even joined them on their late lunch. While they were eating, there were things that I really learned including  the place and the people who lives there. I expressed myself in a way that they can relate to me because most of them are young people. They all treated me very well. I cant help the feeling of being valued, every words I  speak and every gestures I made was meaningful to them. I have this feeling of being dignified, being respected which I think I have never experienced before. However, there are things that have made me realize how hard it is for the first timers like me to talk with these groups of people. The courtesy call achieved the following:

• Initially identified trends (political), religious distribution (Muslims and Christian)
• Schedule of Regular Session (this coming May 6 and 13, 2015)
• Met the Botika ng Barangay Personnel and identified the medicines that are mostly accessed by the people (for cough, fever, diarrhea, skin rashes)

• Captured photos of the Barangay Map (11 sitios), Barangay Organizational Structure (expanded), health data board (updated) and Barangay Officials.

• Scheduled the Courtesy Call on Monday, April 27, 2015, Afternoon.

The scheduled date of the operation tuli of the Municipal Health Office will be on April 27, 2015 and I said I'll be present during that time to finally meet the barangay captain and the councilors as well.

Barangay Tomoaong

The 1 hour wait for the van along the highway was really good because I was able to talk to the people within the area. I was in a hurry and decided to take a break and went to the CR in one of the houses beside the road. I was surprised with what I saw and it introduced me into what they called "antipolo", a kind of toilet that has only two slits of wood  at the center creating a rectangular-shape hole. But what I appreciate was the concrete septic tank that they are using. When I was waiting, I asked couple of people  as to how they have been living their lives there. Most of them are Muslims and it was really in my mind the fear of talking to them because I have bad experiences with the Muslims in our place. I decided to finally ride the motorbike  because the time left was not enough to really conduct the visit. I have in my mind that the next barangay has no barangay officials because of the seminar bu then I pursued. When I got there, I was reminded of the woman  I talked when I was in Cabagayan. She was the same woman,very timid and was wearing a headress called "tubon". I reached through her and greeted everybody in the Barangay Health Station. The woman was incidentally the Barangay Kagawad and the committee chair on health. I was really surprised then. I met the Midwife, Rosie M. Alcoser, BHW's and RHMPP Miss Fern, assigned in the barangay. The courtesy call achieved the following:

• Initially identified trends (political), religious distribution (Muslims and Christian)

• Met the federation president of Coconut Association (possible CBO) in the area and other staff of the BHS.

• Established friendly environment towards Kagawad on Health and the Midwife.

• Captured photos of the Barangay Mission and Vision, Barangay Organizational Structure (expanded), Barangay Officials, Names of other barangay development council.

I found out that there are only 3 barangay captains that have served the community since the barangay was established in in 1968. People are more focused on improving their methods and technologies applied in farming which is actually stated in their mission vision statement. The barangay plaza was filled with joy and celebration because of the upcoming fiesta on the 29th of April. A have seen a picture of a healthy and unified community because people are working together on the preparation and beutification.  I went back to the poblacion Tarragona together with the RHMPP, Miss Fernie who is assigned in the area. Gladly I was able to ride in a jeepney once again. Around 5:30 pm I jumped off the jeepney bringing with me the first experience in 2 barangays that I visited.

Reflection:

There are things that have helped improved myself. I learned that you really need to have courage and patience to be able to achieve whatever goals you wanted. Taking away doubts and negative things might be a good factor in seeing new things in a broader sense.

Courtesy call to the Municipalities of Baganga, Cateel and Boston, Davao Oriental

Activity: Courtesy call to the Municipalities of Baganga, Cateel and Boston, Davao Oriental

Date: April 16, 2015

As we continue to invade the east coast the team had to go through a lot of travel. We began our journey yesterday by visiting MHO’s of Tarragona, Manay and Caraga where we met different health personnel and gathered relevant information to initially understand the situation in the area. However, this day we started another day, another day to learn new things. We conducted courtesy calls to municipalities of Baganga, Cateel and Boston. These last three municipalities lie in the northern part of the province.

Baganga was greatly struck by typhoon Pablo last 2012 but we still can see how people strive hard to revive their economy. We met the Municipal Health Officer Dr.  Violeta P. Morales,MD and the TB aider Thellemae Balmores. Dr. Morales seemed to be so busy as   she came in and approached us happily. The conversation between us was so funny. Dr. Morales was really able to tell her story as to how she reached Baganga and the challenges she has been taking after the catastrophic typhoon. The project was explained by the Project Manager and emphasized the main role of the RHU and LGU in the engagement. We met the Executive Assistant, Mr. Milan Caubang where we explained how the project will be implemented and the actions or the support that the political leaders should give. Resolution making were among the things that was discussed in the said meeting. The team had to be so very quick that time because the team should be able to maximize the time in order to visit the next LGU.

Reaching the RHU in Cateel had become so poignant to me because I saw how people lived their lives after the typhoon. “Pabahay Program” of DSWD was given to the people. The houses are built in many different colors; green, blue, pink, yellow and red. Some of the houses in the relocation sites were not occupied maybe for some reasons. Shattered trees, trunks and abandoned establishments can be seen anywhere. We reached the RHU and unfortunately they had to occupy the Provincial Hospital-owned building due to the ongoing construction of the RHU building brought by the typhoon. The scenario was not good though because of the lack of space. We’ve seen how RHU operate that very moment. We were then introduced to the NTP coordinator and other staff as we waited for Dr. Modesto Veroy who happened to be in some place or a meeting. Christine Morales, NTP Coordinator together with the Public Health Nurse are both listening to the usual explanation of Ate Ging2x (though we heard it all over again). But aside from that I am still observing how our manager explains and answers every single detail and questions for it will also help me if I will be asked the same. Gladly, the whole time talking with the MHO, NTP, PHN and other staff was good. It was then when we decided to go to Boston to conduct courtesy call to the MHO which is supposed to be tomorrow (Apr. 17).

                           The view of the poblacion area in Boston was the first thing that we saw and it was a clear picture of a coastal community that was also ravaged by the calamity. A small and peaceful town within mountains and sea. As we say during the trip “save the last for the best”, indeed it was the best because this is the only municipality that have complied with the DOTS accreditation. We were welcomed by the staff and Dr. Al Raymon Tupas, Municipal Health Officer showed up and greeted us. It was supposed to tomorrow but because of some schedules we came earlier than expected. The whole conversation really was emotional for me because Dr. Tupas shared his experiences during the aftermath of the calamity. He really was expressing his relentless battle as they give health services to the people that are really in need those times. He said it was hard for him and other staff to really serve the people because the staff themselves was also victims. The team really had a great time hearing those experiences and even me doesn’t really expect to have a clear and up-close conversation with the victims of Pablo. The team checked-in to the only available inn. The remaining time we had was spent on walking to the bay near the plaza and talked to some of the people and children there. It was one of the moments that I like most about today’s activity.

Highlights of the Trip

After we con ducted courtesy call to Baganga the team decided to visit Aliwagwag Falls because we arrived at Cateel around 12 noon. The 19 km trip from poblacion Cateel was good because we saw the unadulterated areas of Davao Oriental;  fine view of beaches, green meadow of trees and the clear water flowing in the rivers. The gigantic hundred falls blew up my mind and it was clear to me how gifted is nature. We arrived at the place and people kept coming in and out. Series of picture-taking together with the team was fun. There were times that some of our colleagues embraced the moment and feel the gift of nature. According to one of the staff, the park is on its soft opening. Some buildings just began the construction and other amenities are under development. Zip Line with 680 meters through Cateel river and Monkey Bridge with 45 meters crossing the falls are some of the initial fun filled summer adventure that you wish to experience.