By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

THE Philippine American Medical Associaton of Georgia (USA) or PAMAG is in town to do a medical mission at the Dagupan City Astrodome starting this Monday until Thursday.

The PAMAG team, led by its president Dr. Marilyn Beltran and Drs. Grace Duque-Dizon and Grace Bautista, PAMAG directors for medical mission, met the local media last Saturday afternoon at the Region I Medical Center library (RIMC).

Special guest was Health Secretary Franciso Duque III. Hosts were RIMC director Dr. Jesus Canto and Lyceum Northwestern University president Atty. Gonzalo Duque (whom the PAMAG officials commended for his efficiency and perseverance in working closely with them for this medical mission, going even to the US to iron all things out before the team flew to the Philippines)

The team has some 86 members composed of 12 surgeons, doctors, opthalmologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and others.

Four lucky patients will receive pacemakers (the total cost of which is $40,000). These will be implanted by Dr. Moe Bishara, with the operations to be done at the Villaflor Hospital.

Canto said the recipients of the pacemakers are pre-screened, while about 500 patients a day are expected to avail of the medical mission services at the Astrodome.

PAMAG conducts medical mission in the Philippines every two years, the last time was in Cebu.

“This is really one way for the organization to give back to our mother country, the Philippines, medical services that most of our people who are destitute and to those that need medical care. We want to render them this totally free, from medical services to medications, surgery, all the way” said Dr. Beltran.
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Sec. Duque was asked if he will be running for senator as being reported. He gave this straight and honest response:

“I have really no desire to run for the senate at this point. I feel that I will be probably more effective as secretary of health and in pushing for the major reforms within the health sector, more than legislating. In terms of legislation, I feel that we have already maximized all the needed laws that will help in the development of the entire Philippine health sector. Fist, we already have the generic law. Second, we have the devolution in the local government code. Third, we have the national government insurance program law. What we need now is more of execution rather than legislation.”

The health chief said matter-of-factly there are a lot of laws on health service, but unfortunately, they remain unfunded and also unexecuted.

“If the president chooses to include me in the lineup, I think what I’m going to do is to pray so much and seek the guidance of everyone close to me - my family, friends and my supporters. We have to sort things out and find out exactly where I can be more effective”

He quickly added : “ But like I told you, right now, I think I’m more effective as Health Secretary more than anything else. We have too many laws. What will I do in the senate? Make more laws?”

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Second district Representative Amado T. Espino Jr., KAMPI Pangasinan and Region 1 chairman, said his plan to seek the governorship of Pangasinan is not negotiable.

“I have already declared that I am running for governor and I could not withdraw from that. I could not divulge yet my plans and programs although I have them now. There are a lot of issues and it’s too early to discuss that,” he said.

There are reports that Dr. Jamie Eloise Manzano-Agbayani is being groomed to seek the gubernatorial seat and succeed outgoing Gov. Victor Agbayani.

Espino said twice he talked with the governor for Agbayani to run instead as second district congressman, and for Dr. Jamie as Espino’s runningmate. “I think they are still doing consultations and the family haven’t decided on the matter yet,” he said
Espino is the KAMPI provincial and region 1 chairman.

Referring to the Agbayanis, espino said: “My grandfather, my father, me, my son, have voted already for them starting from his late father, Gov. Aguedo Agbayani. Then I have a six-year old grand daughter who would be voting for them later also if ever. It’s one family running the show for five generations already. Let my grand daughter vote for them, but at least six years in between their terms.”

As to the plan of his mistah, retired PNP chief Arturo Lomibao to run also for governor, Espino said they had talked about it once. He stands pat that, as also stated by Lomibao, the two of them will never fight against each other for the said position.

The Kampi provincial chapter will have their convention this February. The chairmen and members from all the municipalities in the province will be inducted.

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