TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – A consolidated document on legislative recommendations from parliaments all over the world in connection with priorities for the world’s youth sector will be presented at the 65th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, it was learned from a lawmaker from Mindanao Friday.

Rep. Aliah Dimaporo (2nd District, Lanao del Norte) disclosed that she represented the House of Representatives last month in the World Youth Parliamentary Forum in Mexico City.

The forum is a component of the World Youth Conference that gathered select officials of the United Nations and legislators around the world to tackle youth issues.

One of the youngest legislators in Congress, Dimaporo told the forum in behalf of Asian nations that the youth is “Asia’s greatest asset… and the improvement of the regions begins in maximizing and developing human capital.”

Dimaporo said young Asians are stepping forward in recognizing their important role in society as the primary agents of change and culture. She said in the Philippines, “young people are represented in the policy making level." (Diego Cagahastian)

Davao Scouring for Health Funds

DAVAO CITY – The local government here is scouring for another source of fund from its revenue to provide medical aid to poverty-stricken patients as the P75 million transfer payment allocation had been fully exhausted during the third quarter of this year.

Julie Alion, a staff from the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) said the P75 million Lingap Para Sa Mahirap (Lingap) ran out in August, prompting them to haul fund from the crisis intervention program.

As this developed, City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said her office is currently preparing to submit to the local legislative body the second supplementary budget where it would include additional funds to provide health assistance to the poor.

“We will submit it within the next two weeks,” Duterte-Carpio, who did not specify how much she is eyeing to propose, told the Manila Bulletin Friday.

Lingap started in 2001 in a bid to provide health care to indigent Davao residents, providing assistance to patients admitted at the state-run Southern Philippines Medical Center. (Mick Basa)

Chat Benefits Remote Villages

MARAWI CITY (PIA) – Health care services is now accessible to villagers in far-flung areas through the Community Health Action Team (CHAT).

With the technical assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) project, the communities were mobilized to take active involvement in responding to the health needs of the people through the organization of the 30 CHAT in the city, said City Health Officer Dr. Faisal Idris.

According to Idris, CHATs are composed of community volunteers who promote preventive health services, health education, and assist clinic staff. He said 210 CHAT members have been oriented on the different health programs of the City Health Office.

They were also trained on small group discussions to orient community members on basic health topics such as immunization, vitamin supplementation, breastfeeding and family planning as well as basic health procedures such as blood pressure measurement, thermometer reading and growth monitoring, he added.