Bontoc chosen pilot site for DOH health program

>> Saturday, November 4, 2023

By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province - The Dept. of Health (DOH) has chosen this capital town for a health program and brought Biyaheng Kalusugan to Mountain Province focusing on mental health on Oct. 25.
    Biyaheng Kalusugan is part of the Healthy Pilipinas campaign’s effort to improve the health literacy of Filipinos and enable them to practice the “seven healthy habits:” move more, eat right, be clean, live sustainably; get vaccinated; don’t smoke or drink alcohol, say no to drugs; care for yourself and others; practice safe sex and do no harm, put safety first.
    In the Cordillera Administrative Region, Bontoc was chosen as pilot area of  Healthy Habit - "Care for yourself, care for others."
    This was in collaboration with provincial and local government units and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC).
    Fun and engaging activities for students of MPSPC, Senior and Junior High Schools were featured which encouraged participants to practice of self-care and raise awareness on mental health concerns, address common misconceptions and promote active care of mental health and well-being.
    Among activity booths were Mirror Loves You, a reminder of loving and caring for one 's self; Grid of Emotions, where participants were challenged with truth or dare games; Take One, Leave One booth where they received encouraging messages and left inspiring messages for the next participant and Help Desk Health Hub for peer counselling sessions.
    Dr. Rio Magpantay, DOH regional director in his message, cited importance of supporting one's mental health and well-being.
    He likened Biyaheng Kalusugan to the journey of a person where he or she will be faced with many challenges and situations, meet diverse individuals along the way, and eventually realize how important it is to have somebody to face these challenges with.
    DOH Secretary Theodore Herbosa in a video message said the program aimed to foster a cultural community where choosing healthy behaviors becomes an easier choice for everyone, everywhere, every time.
    Mayor Jerome "Chagsen" Tudlong, Jr., in his message, expressed the support of the Bontoc LGU on mental health.
    He added that the gathering is a reminder that mental health matters.
    DOH-CAR Health Promotions Unit head Geeny Anne Austria presented the project dubbed Project RISE UP or Reaching     Individuals for Self-Empowerment through Unified Partnership.
    She said it aimed to promote self-empowerment and mental health through unified collaboration with various stakeholders.
Also present during the event who pledged their commitment to the nationwide program Healthy Pilipinas were Mountain Province Rep/ Maximo Dalog, Jr.,; Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., Tadian Mayor and League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Mountain Province Chapter President Constito Masweng; Bauko Mayor Randolph Awisan; Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey, MPSPC president Edgar Cue, development management officer of  DOH-Provincial Office Michael Capuyan, Jr., chief of behavior change and social mobilization division Dr. Alfonso Miguel Regala; Provincial Health Officer Dr. Annie Claire Pekas; Dr. Dalome Peckley from the Dept. of Education-Mountain Province Schools Division Office and municipal health officers from municipalities of Mountain Province. 
Meanwhile, a Battle of the Bands was conducted in the afternoon while activity booths were also opened.
The songs performed by the band- participants were related to mental health and well-being.

 

 


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