The city government of Puerto Princesa through the City Health Office (CHO) and the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) Palawan chapter entered into a memorandum of understanding on April 23 for the establishment of Puerto Princesa City Mental Health and Wellness Clinic.
The MOU signing was done at the City Medical Complex with signatories Rev. Fr. Eugene S. Elivera, Dr. Ricardo B. Panganiban, Dr. Ralph Marco S. Flores, and Joy Labtis-Jebulan.
“Layunin ng kasunduan ang pagtatatag ng Puerto Princesa City Mental Health and Wellness Clinic na maghahandog ng libre at abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugang pangkaisipan para sa mga mamamayan ng Puerto Princesa,” the city government of Puerto Princesa announced.
Few months ago, the CHO announced that the city government has partnered with the PMHA Palawan chapter in an effort to improve mental health services in the city and make mental health services accessible to the public.
Dr. Ralph Marco Flores, CHO’s Chief for Health Systems Strengthening, Public Health and Population-based Services said that the partnership will pave way for better access of mental health services to Puerto Princesans.
“Sa ilalim ng kasunduan, bukod sa mga serbisyong ibinibigay ng CHO, magkakaloob din ang PMHA ng karagdagang suporta sa pamamagitan ng mga visiting psychiatrists, psychologists, at telehealth psychiatrists upang mapalawak ang access sa mental health services sa lungsod.Ang Mental Health and Wellness Clinic ay kabilang sa mga bagong serbisyong iniaalok ng Medical Complex, bilang bahagi ng patuloy na pagsulong ng accessible at preventive healthcare, alinsunod sa adbokasiya ni Lucilo R. Bayron,” the city government said in a statement.
The PMHA-Palawan Chapter is an organization focuses on youth mental wellness through Peer Support Group Training, partnering with the City Health Department for youth-led initiatives, offering advocacy and awareness activities and promoting community community-based support to fight stigma, often leveraging social media and collaborating with schools and local organizations in the city. They are actively engaged in Puerto Princesa and throughout Palawan, in partnership with international organizations, community-based awareness campaigns, training for peer support groups, online support, and participating in local health initiatives, showing strong engagement in promoting mental health.