• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
In compliance with the requirements of Universal Health Care (UHC) law, Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Health Office (PHO), yesterday opened the first Supply Chain Management Warehouse in the entire Negros Island Region (NIR).
The facility, funded by the Provincial Government, will serve as a storage for medical supplies and equipment essential for healthcare services.
Dr. Girlie Pinongan, PHO Chief, stated that the cold room within the warehouse will function as a hub for managing the province’s health supplies, particularly those requiring specific temperatures, such as vaccines.
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral described the facility as “above the prescribed standards.”
“I am pleased that the province has established this without assistance from the national government. In fact, it exceeds the standards, and I am proud of that,” she expressed, noting that Negros Occidental is the first province in the region to build such a facility.
Maestral added that the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor will also be required to establish similar storage facilities.
“There are medicines that will come from the national government, and there are also medicines that the province will need to purchase,” she explained when asked if the province will procure its own medical supplies.
Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson emphasized that the facility will ensure that “medical supplies are available in our warehouse at all times.”
“The establishment of this warehouse reflects foresight and responsibility. It is our proactive response to one of the most critical aspects of healthcare delivery—ensuring the continuous availability and accessibility of medical commodities, in strong support of the implementation of Universal Health Care in our province,” the governor said. He added that this initiative will reduce shortages, prevent wastage, and improve reliability across the province’s healthcare network.*
