Residents of the city, mostly the less fortunate families, depend on the health centers for their medical needs. In a day, some 250 or more residents, depending on the population in each community, flock to the health centers located in various barangays.
A big chunk of the budget will be used to procure new medical facilities and other office equipment. Last May 17 and 18, the mayor made a surprise visit to the health centers and distributed brand-new computer units, the second batch of equipment given to health centers in just a couple of months. Last January, the centers were also given weighing scales for babies by the mayor‘s wife, Queenie Gonzales.
During the visit, Mayor Gonzales held a dialogue with the health center officials and volunteers and discussed the poor state of some of the health centers as well as the other problems of the employees.
Gonzales instructed Dr. Zaldy Carpeso, Executive Director of the Special Committee on Health Care Delivery, to ensure that the concerns and needs of the health centers are addressed. The committee is under the administrative and technical supervision of the City Health Office.
"The health of our citizens has always been one of my administration’s top priorities. I believe a strong and vibrant city stems from a hardworking and healthy populace," Gonzalez said.