Social Health Insurance Program to be Launched in Batanes
February 8, 2002 - Prepared by NECITAS G. ALCONIS - INFOCEN Officer II

Health Development Institute (HDI), a non-stock, non-profit institution shall bring to Batanes Social Health Insurance Program to improve health care with emphasis on prevention. The SHI Program is initially supported by German NGO.

Working hard but enjoying life. (photo:BatanesOnline.com)

HDI believes that Medical Services start from prevention and continuos studies in prevention entails minimal expenses. It seeks to initiate and establish jobs in Batanes and aims to allow self-reliance among Ivatans so that dependence on other institution and countries be minimal.

HDI to set meeting with mayors this summer to start the project. And when already established, the community does the maintenance.

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Association of Ivatans in Mindanao (AIM) initiated the exchange visit between our key officials and AIM officers and members. To respond to the invitation of AIM president James Iñego, Cong. Abad, Gov. Gato, 2 Sangunian Panlalawigan and municipal mayors left for Mindanao, Bukidnon for a 3-days visit (February 22-24, 2002) to the Ivatan community, the settlers who have established industries and have progressed in the country's food basket.

AIM led by their president are expected to arrive Manila in April 2002 for a homecoming after decades.

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Provincial Monitoring Infrastructure and Evaluation Committee (PMIEC) will implement its role to hasten completion of projects as a result of close coordination through systematic flow of work.

To improve implementation, roles shall be made clear, the flow off funds shall be monitored, system coordination shall be improved. Each projects will need information label of the project itself, funding, date started, contractor, projected completion; and if suspended status of the project.

Existing problem in other provinces that delay projects or sometimes cancel other projects are lack of coordination and peace and order problem.

Coordination among implementors, government officials and engineering office shall be maintained.

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Wind Plant Project to be installed at Sumhao Mahatao shall provide much much government savings from subsidizing island municipalities by millions estimated at P1.6 M savings a year. And because Batanes is a protected area, the policy on good environment is reduction of pollution.

The electric plant will be owned by the province but there'll be a MOA with NPC to manage and operate the power system whose expertise is relied to maintain the system.

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Basco Airport Terminal today (photo: BatanesOnline.com)

Batanes Visitors Center: Cong. Abad and Gov. Gato negotiated with Air Transportation Office to improve the Basco Airport Terminal by building VISITORS CENTER funded by the World Bank. The proposed VISITORS CENTER will house tourism Information Office, Coffee Shop, Souvenir Shop, Restaurant and a nook of photographs of the history of Batanes.

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Ivana Port and Sabtang shelter port are expected to be started, although funds don't come as a whole, as usual initial 15% mobilization fund.

The provincial government initiated Prioritization Structure on Project Implementation to strengthen engineering capability with the provincial engineering. Basco, Ivana, Uyugan LGUs already have their own engineers. There are new Ivatan engineers and more of the crop will provide logistical and technical assistance.