SP PASSES MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS
By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC – SP | Photos By: Mark Andrew G. Sanchez, SP | Date: March 23, 2021
Board Member Gary N. Pinzon, Principal Author of the Ordinance Establishing a Mental Health Program for CoViD-19 Confirmed Patients and Survivors moves for its approval on 2nd Reading during the 91st Regular Session of the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan on March 23, 2021. The ordinance aimed to provide a quality mental health care program, through the development of efficient and effective structures, systems and mechanisms, that will ensure fair, accessible, affordable, appraise, efficient and effective delivery of mental health care to CoViD-19 patients and survivors by qualified, competent compassionate, and ethical mental health professionals and mental health workers.
The continuing and alarming health crisis due to CoVid-19 has become a threat not only to physical health but also to psychological health specially to confirmed patients. It is in this light that the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed on 3rd Reading the Ordinance Establishing a Mental Health Program to CoViD-19 Confirmed Patients and Survivors principally authored by Board Member Gary N. Pinzon during its 92nd Regular Session on March 30, 2021.
The ordinance declared that it is the policy of the province to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to the development of the Province Mental Health Care Delivery System to deliver appropriate services and interventions including provision of mental health protection, care, treatment, and other services to CoViD-19 confirmed patients and survivors.
Likewise, the ordinance provides that the Provincial Government of La Union through the Provincial Health Officer, Provincial Social and Welfare Development Office and other concerned offices shall implement a quality mental health care program, through the development of efficient and effective structures, systems and mechanisms that will ensure fair, accessible, affordable, efficient and effective delivery of mental health care to CoViD-19 patients and survivors by qualified, competent compassionate, and ethical mental health professionals and mental health workers.
Anyone found violating the said ordinance by not accommodating CoViD-19 confirmed patients will be penalized in the amount of P1,000.00 for the first infraction; P2,000.00 for the second infraction; and P3,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than one year or both in the discretion of the court for the third and succeeding infractions.
With the increasing number of confirmed patients in the province, the enactment of the ordinance will help CoViD-19 patients and survivors cope with the adverse effects of the dreaded disease specially on mental health.
