The City Council is going to take a further study on the possible creation of psychology-related positions under the City Health Office (CHO) and City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD).
In a committee report Monday, Council Roy Gregorio Ventura, chair of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, stated the creation of different positions to deliver mental health services in the city was recommended by the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA).
“The PMHA recommended the creation of the said positions to enable Puerto Princesa City to address the needs of each constituent. However, such will be subject to further study and availability of funds,” said Ventura.
Ventura said a meeting was conducted last Wednesday, January 15, with representatives from PMHA Palawan, and City Council’s Committee on Health and Sanitation and Committee on Social Welfare and Community Development.
To cater to the mental health needs of Puerto Princesa constituents, he said PMHA emphasized the need of the city for more guidance counselors, psychometricians, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
Ventura further said in his report that PMHA presently caters to around 1,040 patients in the province wherein approximately 150 are from Puerto Princesa.
He said the province has two psychologists serving under the Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) for hospital setting and court cases.
Ventura also noted there are around 20 registered guidance counselors in the city, who are stationed mostly in national high schools.
“The ideal guidance-counselor-to-a-student ratio is one is to 500. However, in reality, one guidance counselor caters to a thousand students in one school. As reflected in the current specialist to patients/clients ratio, there is a need for more than guidance counselors, psychometricians, psychologists, psychiatrists in the city,” said Ventura.
He said the meeting also revolved on suicide issues and how different agencies must work hand in hand and adhere to the proper dealing of the matter.
The topic on the creation of positions for guidance counselors, psychometricians, psychologists, and psychiatrists under CHO and CSWD was kept on file for further study.