• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance declaring the month of February of every year as the “Bacolod City Oral Health Month”, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading recently.
Authored by Bacolod Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., the ordinance to be known as the “Bacolod City Oral Health Month Celebration’” Ordinance is enacted pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 559 which was issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 24, 2004 “Declaring the month of February of every year as National Oral Health Month”.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to have an annual and continuing promotion to effectively arouse oral health consciousness among the people, it said.
The local government unit and all its subdivisions, together with all 61 barangays, as well as government agencies within the city are required to celebrate and participate in the observance of the National Oral Health Month through the BCOHM celebration in consonance with the annual theme, programs and activities of the city, the ordinance said.
Relative to this, all agencies concerned are hereby enjoined to conduct seminars, symposia, lectures, and other activities designed to increase oral health awareness in the community, it said.
The City Health Office, particularly the Dental Division, will spearhead the celebration, with the assistance of barangay health centers /stations of the 61 barangays and other relevant agencies, the ordinance said.
An initial amount of P 200,000 will be appropriated under the general fund to cover the various activities related to the program, it added.*
