Under an ordinance approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week, the provincial government will provide free hypertension and diabetes maintenance medicine to indigent senior citizens as well as vitamins for pregnant women and children.
Authored by PBM Giovanni A. Balmadrid, Provincial Ordinance No. ____ or the “Catanduanes Libreng Gamot Ordinance of 2025” lists as beneficiaries all indigent senior citizens listed in the barangay roster and suffering from hypertension and diabetes, children and pregnant women.
The measure appropriated the initial amount of P30 million to be included in the annual budget of the province, with the Provincial Health Office, in coordination with the Municipal Health Offices, as the sole authority to identify, procure and distribute the maintenance medicines for indigent seniors and the vitamins for pregnant women and the children.
To avail of the benefit, the beneficiary shall undergo checkup from a doctor from a government hospital or Municipal Health Office or the barangay health center, with the latter issuing a booklet for recording purposes to beneficiaries already registered for the purpose.
The barangay health center may opt to deliver the medicine or vitamins directly to the beneficiaries, especially those who are physically incapacitated, through the barangay health workers for the indigent seniors and pregnant women, and either the barangay nutrition scholar or barangay child development worker for children.
PBM Balmadrid said that it is the policy of the provincial government, in partnership with all sectors, to provide senior citizens, pregnant women, and children with access to maintenance medicines and vitamins, and provide adequate social services.