The City Government of Davao has reconstituted the Davao City Local Health Board (LHB) through an executive order (EO) issued on October 10, 2022.
EO 55, Series of 2022, cited Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states that “the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them” and Article XIII, Section 11, which states that “the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost and there shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children.”
The new EO also cited Section 102 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that a local health board should be established in every province, city, or municipality. And such provision also provides for the composition of the board.
EO 55 further states that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act, provides for an additional member in the board and Section 19.17 of the same IRR provides the additional functions of the Local Health Board.
The LHB shall consist of the city mayor as the chairperson and the city health officer as the co-chair. At the same time, the members are the chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health representatives from the private sector or a non-government organization involved in health services in the city, and representatives from the Department of Health Region 11, Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples, and PhilHealth Region 11, and the city legal officer.
“In the exigency of public service and in case of absence of the Chairperson, the City Administrator shall assume the former’s duties and functions in the LHB,” EO 55 provides.
In their absence, all officers and members were also ordered to name their alternate permanent representatives to the LHB.
The chairperson or his authorized representative shall identify appropriate personnel to comprise the technical staff of the LHB.
The LHB is tasked to propose to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, by standards and criteria set by the Department of Health, annual budgetary allocation for the operation and maintenance of health facilities and services within the city; serves as an advisory committee to the Sangguniang Panlungsod on health matters such as, but not limited to, the necessity for, and application of, local appropriations for public health purposes; consistent with the technical and administrative standard of the Department of Health, create committees which shall advise local health agencies on matters such as but not limited to, personnel selection and promotion, bids and awards, grievance and complaints, personnel discipline, budget review, operation review, and similar functions.
The health body is also directed to set the overall health policy directions and strategic thrusts, including the development and implementation of the integrated strategic and investment plans of the city-wide health system; oversee and coordinate the integration and delivery of health services across the healthcare continuum for city-wide health systems; manage the Special Health Fund (SHF); and exercise administrative and technical supervision over health facilities and health human resources within their respective territorial jurisdiction.
SECTION 3. SECRETARIAT. The Secretariat of the Board shall be the City Health Office, which is tasked to handle all administrative or secretarial-related activities. It shall ensure all meetings of the Board are effectively organized and recorded.
LHB meetings will be held every month or whenever necessary.
“A majority of the members constitutes a quorum to conduct an ordinary business of the Board; provided, that the chairperson and the co-chairperson must be present during meetings where the Local Investment Plan for Health (LIPH), Annual Operation Plan (AOP), and annual budgetary proposal are being prepared or considered. The affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the Board is necessary to approve the health systems plan and budgetary proposals; provided, further, that the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is sufficient to approve matters relating to ordinary business,” EO 55 further states.
A Management Support Unit (MSU) shall be created and will be made up of the City Planning and Development Officer; City Treasurer; City Accountant; and City Budget Officer.
The MSU shall assist the Local Health Board in its operations, including the management of the Special Health Fund.
All expenses necessary and incidental to the effective operation of the Board shall be charged to the City Health Office, provided, that, the chairperson, vice-chairperson and members of the Board shall perform their duties without compensation or remuneration. However, members who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary traveling expenses and allowances chargeable against the SHF, subject to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.
Read EO 55, Series of 2022, here ? https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2022-2/. CIO
