NOT A BLOODY REVOLUTION: Limay SHS, Limay NHS join “KKK” for a healthy Bataan

LIMAY, BATAAN------An uprising broke out in Limay National High School and Limay Senior High School as Bataan 2nd District Representative Jose Enrique S. Garcia III and his team’s partner organizations raised a bloodless revolution through a health and education caravan called “Kabataan at Kalusugan para sa Kinabukasan” (KKK), January 30.

Limay Municipal Mayor Nelson C. David, Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Bataan SGOD Chief Mr. Ramon C. Perez, Limay NHS Principal Mr. Omar G. Magcalas, and Limay SHS Principal Mr. Reynaldo B. Visda joined Cong. Garcia in raising the fitness and health advocacy for the Bataeño youth.

The health caravan was composed of Zumba dance, Laro ng Lahi, Dental Health Seminar, Mental Health Seminar, Free Eyeglasses distribution to teachers, Agri-Lecture, Vegetable Planting Activity, Leadership Seminar and Nutrition Seminar.

Cong Garcia revealed that the health caravan is anchored to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law (Republic Act 11223) signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last February 2019. The expanded UHC law constitutes significant reforms as it does not only provide all Filipino citizens an access to a health insurance program and hospitalization coverage but it also provides support mechanisms”in the health care system such as “health promotion.”

“Ipinasa ang Univesal Health Care Law. Ano po ang layunin nito? Nais nitong bigyan ng access sa paraan para sa gastusin sa ospital at sa gamut. Pangalawang layunin a ng UHC Law ay maiayos ang mga Barangay Health centers, Rural Health Units at an gating mga ospital upang may lunas po tayo kapag may nararamdaman. Kahit na may Philhealth o ospital, ang isa pang mahalagang bahagi ng batas na ito ay ang health promotion o healthy lifestyle.

Apart from accentuating the importance of having a Philhealth coverage and proper health facilities as stipulated in the law, Garcia promotes healthy living by eating nutritious foods, having a regular exercise, sleeping eight to ten hours a day, vice avoidance such as drinking liquor and smoking tobacco products. At this juncture, the former City of Balanga Mayor cited his health advocacy called Tobacco Free Generation.

“Mahalaga po na magkaroon ng masustansyang pagkain. Iyan po ang una…Kasama din po na gagawin ditto ay ang regular exercise. Mahalagang masanay tayong mag-exercise para sa ating maayos na kalusugan…Ikatlo po ay ang pag-iwas sa bisyo. Mahalagang maintindihan na masama ang sigarilyo. Meron itong nicotine na nakakaadik. Nasisimulan ito sa batang edad hanggang sa tumanda ang edad. Kaya mahalagang makuha ang suporta ng mga kabataan sa ating programang Tobacco-Free Generation.”

Garcia also quipped, “Pagdating sa alak, hindi rin dapat kayo umiinom nito. Isamar in po natin ang tamang pagtulog, mga 8 to 10 hours na pagtulog kada araw. Depende po sa ating ginagawa, sana subukan po nating matulog ng 8-10 hours, lalo’t lumalaki pa kayo.”

Cong. Garcia and team forged partnership with Balangay Bayani Youth Organization that gave the leadership seminar; Lions Club of Balanga City that handed out free reading glasses to teachers, Provincial Health Office that spearheaded the nutrition seminar; Philippine Dental Association-Bataan that took the charge in dental health seminar; DepEd-SDO Bataan, Bataan Multi-Sectoral Governance Coalition (MSGC).