Province, IBP-Cebu seals partnership

CEBU, Philippines —  To formalize its partnership in giving free medical and legal services to the residents of Cebu, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu Chapter and the Cebu provincial government have inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the province-wide integrated legal and medical mission in Cebu.

The IBP had been doing this mission to the different towns and cities in Cebu Province in the past months where their member-lawyers give free legal services like notarization, drafting of legal documents, consultations and lectures, while the medical professionals from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and other non-government organizations give medical services like surgeries and consultations.

The IBP wanted to formalize this program with the Capitol, as they have more medical and legal missions scheduled to be conducted in the future.

“And still with several similar activities lined up in the near future such as, among others, surgical mission to be performed at the Sogod LGU, Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo city, and District Hospitals of the second District such as in Argao and Oslob District Hospitals in the following months, hence (the) IBP-Cebu intends to formalize its mutual partnership and cooperation with the Province of Cebu. And for this purpose, IBP-Cebu and the Province, deem it advisable and appropriate to come up with a Memorandum of Agreement,” read part of the MOA.

Under the agreement, the IBP will propose the schedule a month before the actual medical and legal mission. The IBP-Cebu will be the one to make arrangements for the required number of surgeons, medical doctors and staff.

The province, on the other hand, through the provincial and district hospitals, will make available its facilities for the said mission "and may provide free of charge depending on availability, the laboratory exams and x-ray tests are required for the procedure."

"No charges or costs are to be collected directly from the patients served under this agreement and during the stipulated duration of the province-wide integrated legal and medical mission," the MOA said.

The Capitol will also arrange an online conference or visit that will be utilized for the said purpose.

The MOA was signed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for the side of the Province and Atty. Cheryl Palacao-Condat, President of IBP-Cebu, and Atty. Michael Francis Hubahib, vice president and legal aid chairman of IBP-Cebu Chapter, during the legal and medical mission conducted at Oslob District Hospital last November 19. — GAN (FREEMAN)