Feature: 15000th BnB in Brgy. Tiring, Cabatuan

PIA Press Release 2009/09/23

Feature: 15000th BnB in Brgy. Tiring, Cabatuan

Iloilo City (23 September) -- "The launching of the 15000th Botika ng Barangay (BnB) in the country will provide easy access to cheaper medicines, not only to the poor residents of Barangay Tiring but also its neighboring communities".

This sentiment was both shared by Mayor Ramon Yee of Cabatuan, Iloilo and Genovevo Monticado, Punong Barangay of Tiring, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency.

Monticado said he was very happy when Mayor Yee told him about the project after it was presented to the local chief executive by the Department of Health (DOH) 6.

"Nalipay gid kami sang ginpresent ini sa amon ni Mayor and we are very thankful to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for this laudable project", said Monticado.

Brgy. Tiring is the biggest barangay in Cabatuan with a population of 2,411. It is 4 kilometers away from the town proper and 20 kms. away from Iloilo City.

DOH 6 Representative Mary Agnes Halili said the establishment of the BnB in Tiring will spare poor residents from traveling 3 kilometers just to buy cheaper medicines at Brgy. Gibuangan, Tigbauan where the nearest BnB is located.

Halili also said that to reach Brgy. Gibuangan, residents have to cross a river and when it is flooded they have to ride a banca.

Monticado said for a start, they will receive P25,000 worth of medicines from the DOH.

"Aside for the fact that our residents can now have easy access to low-priced medicines, the opening of the BnB also opened an employment opportunity in our community," the barangay chief said.

The BnB will be manned by a DOH-trained operator in the person of Anna Lina Leonor who will be assisted by Helen Alegria, both residents of Tiring.

Barangay Tiring is the latest addition to the 16 barangays in the town with existing BnB outlets and have benefited in the program launched by President Arroyo in 2003 aimed to ensure accessibility and availability of affordable medicines to poor people in the communities, including insurgency-affected areas.

DOH 6 reported that there are 1,604 BnBs in the region and 14,999 nationwide, as of September 22, 2009. (PIA)

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