FREE HEALTH SERVICES

Mix it with commitment and total devotion for a targeted goal and it will be a sure formula for success.

Take for instance, a state-of-the-art public hospital that’s offering free health services for all Tomasinos.

For residents of Sto. Tomas known as “The Gateway to the Province of Batangas”, it has been their dream for the longest time especially the poor, to have a quality but free public health care system and facility.

But unfortunately for them, it has remained just like that, a dream.

Enter AJAM

For Sto. Tomas City mayoralty candidate Atty. Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan, or AJAM, a modern hospital that offers free health services for their residents is attainable and what they actually need.

And that is exactly what he has in mind and wants to give to his city mates if he is elected to the post next year.

He noted that the need for a modern, bigger public hospital was magnified amid the sweeping health crisis.

Presently, the city only has a two-story infirmary or medical building that can accommodate a very limited number of patients.

“Kung tayo po ay papalaring makapag-lingkod sa ating lungsod ito po ang aking magiging unang prayoridad, and pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng ating mamamayan” AJAM told OPINYON Batangas in an exclusive interview.

AJAM’s team

Running under Aksyon Demokratiko, AJAM’s running-mate is city Councilor Cathy Jaurigue-Perez.

His powerhouse slate for city councilors include Arlene FEDERICO-MANEBO, Atty. Raquel Maloles-Salazar, Donna Sanchez, Dra. Helengrace Navarro, Kap. Vic Bathan, Leovy Villegas, Kap. Bata Pecana, Allan Maligaya, Kon. Danny Mabilangan and Kon. Gerry Malijan.

“Palalakihin po natin ang ating kasalukuyang infirmary. We will put up a new public hospital that is free to all Tomasinos and will provide all their medical and healthcare needs,” AJAM said.

Plans

And while the new hospital building is still under construction, AJAM plans to enter into a temporary arrangement with any of the city’s existing private hospitals to accommodate Tomasinos needing immediate hospital care for free.

“We can arrange it with them (private hospitals) to give us at least one or two floors where our Kababayans may be confined temporarily or while construction for the new public hospital is ongoing,” AJAM said.

“Of course, this is free. The city hall will pay for their hospitalization,” the former city administrator added.

Grand dream

AJAM further explained that this grand dream for excellent public health care system for Tomasinos, is patterned after Makati City where Makatizens were issued Yellow Health Cards that are accepted or honored among private hospitals within the city.

Atty. Jhun said Tomasinos will also be issued health cards, a Blue Health Card, whose color happens to be the favorite color of the city’s leading mayoral candidate.

Free medical assistance

In reality, the energetic lawyer who also offers free legal services through his Facebook page, is now providing free medical assistance via his mobile clinic going around the city’s 30 barangays.

“Meron na ako ngayon mobile clinic, medical service, libreng X-ray, chest X-ray, ECG, at blood chem,” Marasigan enthused.

“Nagbibigay din po tayo ng mga assistance, konting ayuda sa mga nagkaroon ng Covid, nagpapahiram din ako ng oxygen tanks sa mga Covid patients na nahihirapan huminga or kahit hindi Covid nagpapahiram din po tayo ng oxygen tanks sa lahat ng mga nangangailangan,” he said.

Second shot

The May 9, 2022 national and local elections is his second shot at the city’s highest elective post that he barely missed in 2019 by a slim margin.

But this never hampered nor diminished his devotion to serve as he is a true-blue Tomasino.

“Programa ko noon, ay ang makapagpagawa tayo ng public hospital. And I think this is doable dahil meron naman lupa ang munisipyo o city hall. And yes, we can also provide medical services na libre gaya sa Makati na may yellow card, sa atin blue card.” Marasigan enthused.

“Katunayan, ngayon ay meron na tayong AJAM Blue Card. May pangalan yan, hindi lang basta card dahil it can be used for CBC (complete blood count) exams, chest X-ray ECC, at blood chem test,” he said.

“Meron syang QR code na kapag na-scan lalabas ang medical services pati na kung ano na ang mga na -avail na medical services ng isang card holder,” he added.

Governance platform

Aside from free health services, included in AJAM’s platform is livelihood for Tomasinos, development and infrastructure, and education.

“Pagagandahin ang mga programang pangkabuhayan, pati na ang development and infrastructure para dumami ang may hanap-buhay kasi nagka-pandemic madami ang nawalan ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan,” AJAM said.

“Pagdating naman sa education, palalawigin pa din natin ang scholarship programs. Ito ang mga priority programs natin sa ngayon.”

AJAM also touched on the perennial problem on traffic in the city most especially in the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Morning traffic snarl oftentimes occur from 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. and then again from 5p.m. to 7 p.m.

This happens during weekdays along Maharlika Highway traversing barangay San Rafael, Santiago, and Sta. Anastacia where the Light Industry and Science Park II (LISP 2) and the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) are located.

According to AJAM, this is the price to pay for progress as it is “a part of development. When you gain something, you have to forego something.”

“Siguro ang magagawa natin riyan ay maglabas ng isang ordinansa o resolution at kausapin natin ang ating mga kaibigan sa loob ng ating industrial parks na i-limit during rush hours ang mga sasakyan,” Marasigan explained.

Another solution he said is “baka pwedeng isang gate ang gamitin nila papasok lang and then isang gate din palabas” especially at FPIP.

One more thing is to require all traffic enforcers to undergo proper training on traffic management.

Widening of sidewalks along with unloading and unloading areas might also help mitigate the perennial traffic problem.

Once the traffic situation in the said area is addressed, he said it will also help ease traffic in the vicinity of Barangays San Vicente and San Felix where the Shrine of Padre Pio is located and where traffic jam is a common problem.

Peace and order

Marasigan also discussed his plan on peace and order.

“Gusto ko dagdagan ang suporta nila (police force). Una ay visibility, isa ako sa mga nagsulong na magkaroon tayo ng SWAT (special weapons and tactics). Now, I would like for the city to have its own anti-terorrism units because we might be targeted as we have several industrial parks.”

“Mag-iimbita rin tayo ng mga investors, mag-invite pa ng investors with business organizations pero dapat unahin nila ang mga Tomasino at least 50% ng kanilang workforce ay Tomasinos,” Marasigan said.

“So mahalaga ang peace and order, peace augmentation forces, damihan dagdagan ang mga outpost at PCP (police community precincts) mga detachment dati, kasi I believe kapag tahimik ang isang lugar may kapanatagan ang investors.”

Marasigan intends to put up PCPs in different entry and exit points of the city, hoping it will also pose a good deterrent to drug traffickers who according to a former city chief of police uses STC a convenient transit point for their nefarious trade.

“Pag nakita mo dilapidated, walang gamit, mainit ang puwesto ng PCP they will not stay long in there. Now, I don’t want to give them a reason na walang gasolina, walang saksakyan, walang computer, walang papel. We will provide them,” added Marasigan.

Before concluding his interview, the leading mayoral aspirant of Sto. Tomas City reverted back to his priority health care agenda for Tomasinos.

“Sa buong Sto Tomas, may FB page po tayo hanapin lang (Atty.) Arth Jhun Marasigan at makikita n’yo schedule namin ng Mobile Clinic. At kahit na hindi taga-barangay, you can go there at kapag may slots na pwede pa sila ma-accommodate, we will accomodate them.”

“Dahil ako po ay naniniwala na ang malusog na mamamayan, nagreresulta sa malusog na bayan. So ‘yun po ang ating No. 1 na pinagkakaabalahan ngayon,” ended AJAM.