Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon urged the medical frontliners of the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center to be “extremely patient” with our clients and to serve them wholeheartedly with love and respect. 

During the 51st Founding Anniversary program of DOPMC on July 22, 2022, Gov. Malanyaon challenged its employees to offer better services and foster good relationships with their patients and clients.

“You are all attending to poor clients. They will not be admitted to DOPMC if they can afford bigger, private healthcare providers. Please try to commiserate with their situations,” Gov. Malanyaon said, adding that most DOPMC’s clients are left with no other option than to admit their patients to DOPMC due to financial constraints.

“If you love God, you have to love His people. These poor people are the subjects of the mercy of God,” she said, adding that as health workers with a sworn duty to serve the less fortunate, they must “Find meaning in serving the marginalized sector of our society.” 

Meanwhile, in light of the economic crisis, with the growing inflation and the rising fuel prices in the international market brought about by the ongoing war in Russia and Ukraine, Governor Malanyaon urged the employees to be frugal and conscious with their spending. 

“Let’s observe austerity and discipline,” said the Governor as she promised that her administration would also go on judicious spending that “will just address the most needed and important things to include health and social services.”

She vowed to give a generous allocation for health and social services as this is among her topmost priorities. 

“If there will be declined requests, that is not because I don’t like you or I don’t want to support you, but because I just want to prioritize things that matter the most,” she said.

DOPMC at 51

Starting as an infirmary with only 25 beds in a rented building way back in 1971, 51 years later, DOPMC is now a massive healthcare facility with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities complemented by highly qualified and experienced doctors and medical professionals.

Gov. Malanyaon expressed her deepest gratitude to all DOPMC employees on their 51st founding anniversary.

“After having gone through a lot of 51 years, you have seen what it is now,” she said, adding that we need to preserve the gains we have achieved so far.

She also bared her plan to convert DOPMC into a national hospital so that “we can get all the support from the national government,” to which the DOPMC employees concurred with cheers.

“I encourage everyone to participate and unite for this plan actively,” she said, considering the “hospital is one of the essential components of the government,” which needs a timely upgrade every year.

The Governor opted to further improve the provincial government’s public health status and medical service during her administration.

“As you take care of our patients, I will also take care of your interests as you mother of this province,” Gov. Malanyaon said to DOPMC employees.

The Celebration

Part of the celebration is giving a plaque of appreciation to DOPMC employees who have devotedly rendered their service to the people, contributing to the medical center’s growth and the province of Davao Oriental as a whole.

Each awardee initially received a cash incentive worth 5,000 pesos but later doubled by Governor Malanyaon, including the prizes of the parlor games prepared for the merriments on their 51st founding anniversary. 

Gov. Malanyaon reminded that “While we are all in the position to help and serve people, let’s all make our work a source of fun and pleasure.” By Van Jorain O. Rufin | Photos by Joel Owano