• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The new set of officers of the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine Negros Occidental Chapter (PCOM NOC) for 2024-2025 led by Dr. Gilda Rose Lim recently took their oath of office during the 21st Dr. Telesforo J. De Los Reyes Jr. Memorial Lecture at L’Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City.
Other officers are Doctors Junnie Martin Torrefranca – vice president (South), John Alejano – vice president (Metro Bacolod), Robby Ace Balquin – vice president (North), Lesel Ganancial – secretary, Nida Isabel De La Pena – treasurer, Jose Gerardo Rivera – PRO, and Noelito Recamara – auditor.
Members of the Board of Directors are Doctors Rollin Fernandez, Rafael Jocson, Ernesto Labra, Carlitos Magno, Eduardo Ordonez, Carlos Tan, Andrea Joanne Alerta-Torres, Jose Edmundo Gayoles, John Dominic Trinidad, Herdeh Serna, Gift Joy Verano, and Arnel Earl Batayola.
PCOM national president Dr. Anna Sophia Victoria Fajardo and PCOM national immediate past president Dr. Phil Pangilinan were the inducting officers and guests of honor.
Immediate past president Dr. Carlitos Orola was awarded PCOM NOC Occupational Physician of Negros Occidental 2023.
Dr. Ronel Sario lectured on “Silence the Cough: Leveraging the therapeutic course in cough management,” during the 21st Dr. Telesforo J. De Los Reyes Jr. Memorial Lecture.
Adrian De los Reyes, in his response said, “Living through a global pandemic has driven dramatic shifts in our jobs, our workers, all healthcare professionals and essential workers, our eating habits, selfcare, preventive measures and even our collective sense of time. Time and again, new strains emerge and long Covid are still being dealt with. However, it is our reemergence from it, our reopening and our reshaping the healthcare, economy, government, pharmaceuticals, business and daily lives that are more crucial.”
Paradoxically, this public health ‘tsunami’ was an opportunity for Occupational Medicine to highlight the centrality of its role in protecting the health not only of industrial workers, healthcare workers but also of the entire community. Employers and Occupational Health and Medicine should work hand in hand for sustainability of our workers and prioritize Total Worker’s Health in the process, he said.
“Tonight, we are beyond blessed to have gathered here today to commemorate the 21st Dr. Telesforo J. De Los Reyes Jr. Memorial Lecture, to celebrate and honor my grandfather as the founding president of the PCOM Negros Occidental Chapter 47 years ago. Way back 1977 up until today, PCOM-NOC’s evolution in numbers and responsibilities, projects and success will not be possible without the working force behind it year after year. That is why we also celebrate the efforts of the dedicated officers back then till today, to overcome the challenging years of formation like my grandpa and his colleagues, Adrian De los Reyes said
PCOM proudly stands as a specialty society of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Division of the Philippine Medical Association, Affiliate member of International Commission on Occupational Health and Asian Association of Occupational Health, he said.
Also present were Doctors Honeylee Faith Cervantes – national secretary; Oscar Santiano – past national president chair, PCOM Specialty Board; Elaise Haase – national auditor; Maria Amalia Perez – national director chair, Advocacy; and Emiliano Saceda II – national director chair, Mutual Aid Committee.*
