By Michael Punongbayan
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has conferred healthy city awards to Parañaque and Marikina in recognition of their support and contributions in the promotion of health and well-being among cities and municipalities all over the world.
Both were cited for programs and projects that conform to the goals and ideals of the Alliance For Healthy Cities which now has 120 member-localities globally.
Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr., who returned to the country yesterday after attending the awarding rites in Tokyo, Japan held Oct. 25, said Parañaque City was among the very few cities to receive two recognitions during the grand event.
“WHO-AFHC gave us an award for creative development and another award for great dynamics,” he told The Star in an interview.
According to him, Marikina, headed by Mayor Marides Fernando, was also cited for its promotion of WHO-AFHC programs and projects.
Bernabe said Parañaque’s initiative to care for mothers and infants along with nutritional programs for its general public earned praises in the international community.
“These awards are given to localities who do more in so far as caring for their constituents is concerned. WHO-AFHC has 10-member cities in the Philippines and 120 members worldwide,” he said.
He said Parañaque will continue to explore new ways to promote health and well-being in the locality by upgrading its birthing home project for indigents following the opening of the very first free birthing facility in Barangay San Martin De Pores last week.
“We will put up more of these birthing homes. The idea is to discourage would-be mothers from seeking the help of traditional hilots because they cannot afford going to a hospital or a lying-in clinic,” he said.
“The city government of Parañaque will open more of these birthing facilities for the poor this year,” Bernabe said, believing that the initiative will earn the locality another award from the WHO next year.
