Category: Basic Social Services

Through the teen centers of our Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) partner schools, students can come and seek help, information, and advice regarding their concerns and issues during this critical, developing period of their youth. In support of these centers, proceeds from the previously celebrated ARH Day are used for the purchase of supplies and equipment for Bentung Sulit National High School, Bonifacio R. Tagaban Sr. Integrated School, Landan National High School, Nicolas Barreras National High School, Pablo Valencia National High School, Palkan National High School, Poblacion Polomolok National High School, Polomolok National High School, Silway-8 National High School, and Upper Klinan National High School

In order to promote the ARH program and also celebrate the continuity of this program component, Mahintana through its ARH Program spearheaded the turnover on July 15, 2019 held at the Municipal Office of Polomolok during the flag raising ceremony. School principals and ARH advocates of the 10 partner schools were invited.  Joining the occasion were Dr. Grace Salazar and Dr. Earl Edward Dimamay of the Municipal Health Office, Ms. Leamor Banaga, Manager of the Community Relations Department of Dole Philippines, Inc., Municipal Councilors Melchor Jutar, Eliazar Jovero, Alan Ines, Vice Mayor Atty. Xavier Bayan, and Municipal Mayor Hon. Honey Lumayag-Matti, along with the different offices of the local government unit.

ARH partner schools requested via proposals assorted materials: bond papers, other school and office supplies, sports equipment, LED TV, bookcase, and mostly 3 in 1 printers.

In support to the 6^th “Alay Gabay Para sa Maginhawang Buhay” Invitational Golf Tournament. St. Elizabeth Hospital Inc. donated three wheelchairs to Mahintana Foundation Inc. to be given to differently abled persons through the latter organization’s Wheelchair Distribution Caravan. The wheelchairs were delivered to the Mahintana on July 9, 2019 and received by the BOT Chairperson Mr. Carlos S. Baldostamon Jr. and President and CEO Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot.

From 2008-2016, the organization already distributed 3,375 wheelchairs with a total worth of Php6.46M to beneficiaries from SOCSCSarGen, North Cotabato and Bukidnon areas. This year’s golf tournament will be held on August 3-4, 2019 as one of the activities of Mahintana’s 42^nd founding anniversary celebration.

July 5, 2019 – PTFK Health Education and Promotion Officers (HEPOs) from FARB, UEWMPC, TIBUD Katibawasan MPC, and Mr. Jay Hijos from the Municipal Office, together with MFI Volunteer Ms. Wiki Hamilton and PTFK Project Officer Ms. Rochelle Juevesano, conducted room-to-room campaign in Bentung Sulit National High School (BSNHS) in coordination with the school’s ARH Advocate Ms. Yolanda Valiente. Over 150 students were taught on topics about drug, alcohol and tobacco use, well-being and stress management, STI/HIV/AIDS, and Adolescent Reproductive Health. Each HEPO was assigned a topic and presented using PowerPoint presentations and visual aids for 10-15 minutes. To cater more students in a shorter period, class sections were merged.

Next schedule of the Room-to-Room Campaign is July 19, 2019 at the Upper Klinan National High School.

The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) along with the Provincial Veterinary Office of Koronadal City conducted its Massive Rabies Vaccination at Brgy Cannery Site, Polomolok on June 18-21 & 25, 2019. The team of vaccinators were led by Mr. Samson Domaoan, Agriculturist II of the OMAg. According to the OMAg, a total of 882 dogs and 12 cats were vaccinated in 27 puroks of Brgy. Cannery Site with 442 pet owners served with vaccination certificates and information to properly care for their pets after vaccination. Polomolok Task Force Kalusugan (PTFK) provided assistance to 25 vaccinators.

This activity is accordance to Section 8, Article VI of General Ordinance No.  Code states that “every dog three (3) months of age and older should be submitted by the owner for vaccination against rabies every year.”

The Polomolok Task Force Kalusugan Project (PTFK), the Integrated Provincial Health Office of South Cotabato (IPHO) has invited Polomolok to celebrate ASEAN Dengue Day or Dengue Awareness Month Celebration on June 14, 2019 at Brgy. Cannery Site, Polomolok, South Cotabato. It was participated by 350 Municipal Health Office staff, brgy. health workers, midwives, Health Promotion Officers (HEPOs), Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) advocates, teachers and students of Dole Cannery Central Elementary School, parents, barangay councilors, and other stakeholders.  

The activity started with a motorcade from Dole Central Elementary School to Polomolok Public Market and back to the school’s covered court where the participants gathered. Dr. Rogelio B. Aturdido, the Provincial Health Officer of South Cotabato, spoke emphasis on the Enhanced 4S Strategy against dengue and other aedes-borne viral diseases. Dr. Earl Dimamay, a rural health physician from the MHO, presented statistics on dengue in the municipality, dengue accomplishment, and best practices. Dengue insecticides treated screens (ITS), logistics, and supplies were turned over to Brgy. Cannery Site. There was a signing of pledge of support for a dengue-free school and Brgy. Cannery Site as well as institutionalization of the Enhanced 4S Strategy. IEC materials such as advocacy tarps were produced and distributed to selected schools and cooperatives for this activity. Participants received flyers on the 4S strategy against dengue, dengue symptoms, and practices to combat dengue (such as AKBD: Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue).

To celebrate the Heart Month, the Polomolok Task Force Kalusugan (PTFK) Program of Mahintana Foundation, Inc. through the Health, Wellness and Safety Initiatives in the Workplace conducted the Heart Walk on February 16, 2019 from the Cannery Gymnasium to the open court fronting the Polomolok Municipal Hall. This activity is in partnership with LGU Polomolok, BLGU Cannery Site, BLGU Poblacion, Dole Philippines, Inc., Dolefil-Kaugnay, LEAD.PH, LEAD Salaried, Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital, and 5 partner-cooperatives: CAMPCO, Tibud-SKMPC, PMSC, FARB-MPC, and UEWMPC. Around 600 participants from different stakeholders joined the activity including 9 partner schools and the Dole Management and personnel.

The organizers and participants gathered in Cannery Gymnasium at 4AM starting with a prayer led by Ms. Rhogelyn Diana of Mahintana. Cannery Punong Barangay Hon. Antonio Octavio gave the welcome address. Unified Cooperative HEPO Mr. Ronie Guilaran and his team led the Zumba dance as warm-up for the 5-km walk. The Polomolok Water District set up the 7 water stations to provide walkers free potable water along the way to teh venue. Hon. Octavio signaled the start of the walk. Another Zumba dance session led by Ms. Mirasol Ingente and her Zumba team was conducted in the municipal plaza before a short program. Mr. Ralph Janiola, Schools Cluster Head, led the opening prayer. In behalf of Mun. Mayor Hon. Honey Lumayag-Matti, Mun. Councilor Hon. Alan Ines gave the welcoming remarks. The messages of support were given by Vice-President and Managing Director Mr. Randy Fleming and Mun. Cooperative Development Council (MCDC) Chairperson Mr. Junbard Mahinay. Rural Health Physician Dra. Mary Grace Salazar discussed about prevention of diabetes and the importance of exercise and proper diet. Participants were selected for the special awards: Best in Zumba Attire, Best Tumbler and 1^st 3 walkers, and were given tumblers and yoga mats as prizes. For cling remarks, Mun. Councilor Dr. Melanie Deypalan said that to have a healthy heart, it is important to have a peaceful heart. All the participants received a cup of arroz caldo, Nutripan bread products and Dole juice in can.

LGU Polomolok was represented by the: Mayor’s Office, Polomolok Water District, Philippine National Police (PNP), Municipal Health Office (MHO), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Ministry of Social Welfare & Development (MWSD), BLGUs Cannery and Poblacion, and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Members.

ARH trained twenty-nine (29) BHWs, ten (10) NDPs, eighteen (18) ARH Teacher advocates, and ten (10) HEPOs with Open Data Kit (ODK) on November 13 & 14, 2018 at Mahintana Conference Room. The training aims to promote paperless profiling of baseline data and strengthen their appreciation of the system. RESOURCEGov Project Manager Roel Ian P. Blanker was invited as the resource speaker of the said training.

The participants were able to register to Kobotoolbox, make their own forms and demonstrate how to use the forms in the Kobocollect Android app.

Polomolok Task Force Kalusugan (PTFK), a program implemented by Mahintana Foundation, Inc., Dole Philippines, Inc., LGU Polomolok and other stakeholders, conducted a Peer Educators and peer Counselors Training on October 29-31, 2018 at Durian Garden Resort, Polomolok, South Cotabato. The 3-day activity was attended by 57 student and PYAP participants and 22 teacher-facilitators from 10 public high schools of the municipality.

The activities include the following: Expectation Setting – Participants were able to express their expectations about the training; Rationale and Overview Presentation – Ms. Victoria “Wiki” Hamilton presented the rationale of the training and encouraged the participants to take their parts as catalyst of change in the community; Creation of House Rules – the participants were given the opportunity to make the house rules for the training, thus, ensuring their participation and obedience of the said rules; Presentation of Action Plans per School – Students and PYAP participants were given the time to present their action plans which include monthly meetings, radio broadcasting, ARH camp, monitoring of girl-boy relationships, etc. and the budget needed to conduct the activities; Commitment Session –  Participants, divided per school and the PYAP was considered as one, were given supplies to draw their right hand on and write their plan of actions to remind them of their duties a d responsibilities as peer educators; Impressions – the participants were given opportunity to speak their minds on the training, both the negative and positive impressions were noted.; and lastly, the Closing Activities – the facilitators and participants were given their  certificates of participation.

PTFK Program aims to raise awareness of teenage groups regarding adolescent sexuality, adolescent reproductive health and prevention of STI/HIV/AIDS.