BTC CHAIRMAN GLADYS VERGARA CHAMPIONS COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES AND UNVIERSAL HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY

February 20, 2025 Lifestyle

On February 18, 2025, the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC), led by Chairman Gladys Vergara, successfully conducted the 𝘽𝙏𝘾 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 (𝙂𝙑) 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 at the Loakan-Apugan Barangay Covered Court. Hosted by Barangay Captain Salvador Lumitap, the mission provided free medical services to over 100 residents from Loakan-Apugan and neighboring communities, underscoring BTC’s dedication to accessible healthcare and community welfare.

The medical mission, spearheaded by Dr. Dwight Black, Dr. Paul Quitiquit (SLU), and Dr. Celia Brillantes (Baguio City Health Officer), offered a wide range of essential medical services, including:

• Eye Check-ups & Free Eyeglasses
• Diabetes Screening
• General Medical Check-ups/Consultations
• Breast Examinations
• Free Medicines

BTC Chairman Gladys Vergara played a pivotal role in organizing the medical mission, donating medicines and eyeglasses, and providing essential support. She expressed deep gratitude for the collective efforts that made the mission a success, emphasizing the importance of community-driven healthcare initiatives.

Several organizations and individuals also contributed to the mission’s success, including the Baguio Everlasting Lions Club, Pines Association of Nursing Attendants and Caregivers, Inc., Diabetes Philippines Baguio-Benguet Chapter, Atok Health Center, SLU Sacred Heart Medical Center, Sweettech Industries, Inc., Unilab, Inc., Swiss Baker, Fernando S. Tiong, and BTC Board Members Glenn Gaerlan, Elaine Sembrano, and Aurora Alambra. Local champion Eric Kelly also lent his support to the initiative.

In line with her advocacy for health and welfare, Vergara, in a recent Senior Citizen General Assembly in Barangay Upper Quezon Hill, Baguio City, shared her vision for a comprehensive Universal Health Care system. She emphasized that free medical check-ups, hospitalization coverage, and essential health services should be accessible to all Filipinos, particularly senior citizens, women, and children. “𝙉𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠-𝙪𝙥𝙨 𝙙𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨,” 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮.

Vergara further advocated for expanding Social Pension benefits to include all senior citizens, asserting that “𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.” She committed to championing policies that uphold the well-being and dignity of senior citizens and pledged her ongoing support for programs that prioritize public health.