Paranas, Samar – The UNILAB Pharmaceutical Company recently visited the municipality of Paranas town in Samar province, shortlisted under KALAHI-CIDSS program in Eastern Visayas.
The team led by Laurice Sta. Maria, the General Manager of Health First Clinic of the company, conducted an ocular visit to gather ideas and information relevant to the conceptualization of their project called television medicine, patterned after that of India. This is a program which offers the consultation services of a doctor through television.  A remote area that may find difficulty in seeing a doctor for consultation can easily access the services through television.

Sta. Maria, who was with three other staff, stressed that the visit focused on gathering of data, and facts to find out and feel the real situation in the municipality. We also are looking for a place that has potential to implement projects.

In the orientation, Sta. Maria discussed about the objectives of the program saying a depressed community, which has fewer opportunities to obtain facility that delivers proper health services, will be accommodated.  The municipality, as well, must also have the capacity to implement such kind of project and could provide counterpart in the implementation.

Their demand on the project is high-a remote but accessible area, and most especially there is involvement/engagement of the people in the implementation of the project. Paranas was one among the KALAHI-CIDSS good performing municipalities in the region. It completed three cycles of implementation with 61 sub-projects that provide services to the communities. Most of the sub-projects were implemented through community force account.

Communities give their counterpart through pintakasi.  The municipal government, on the other hand, also provides cash counterpart for the implementation.  It likewise, extends technical assistance and support to the community during implementation.

KALAHI-CIDSS National Deputy Project Manager Benilda Redaja and four staff from the DSWD Field Office Eight, were with the UNILAB. They were met by the local chief executive, LGU staff and some community volunteers.

Redaja revealed that 18 representatives from UNILAB went to the DSWD Central Office and met with former Secretary Cabral to ask assistance in looking a possible site where they could implement the project. The KALAHI-CIDSS areas, especially good performing municipalities, were recommended to avail of the project.