Agusan Del Sur

Two new doctors paid a courtesy call and thanked Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza for the invaluable help they have received from the provincial government. Recently passing the doctor of medicine board examination, they are now rendering medical services at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH) in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. The two were recipients of the scholarship grant of Agusan del Sur provincial government.

Dr. Heide Mondejar from the municipality of Talacogon graduated from the Dr. Jose P. Rizal School of Medicine - Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan while Dr. Kenneth Sagrado from Prosperidad graduated from the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City.

"I am very glad and proud that we reap another fruit of our struggles and dreams. Aside from having another two new doctors, I feel very elated because our time and efforts and the resources of the government were not wasted. We can now fill up the need of doctors in the DOPMH who will address one of our thrust in government service which is the delivery of quality health services," Gov. Plaza said.

Dr. Joel Esparagoza, chief of the DOPMH was also glad that the two passed the doctor's board. He said the two doctors will be a big help to DOPMH, the lone tertiary hospital in the province. Dr. Esparagoza said he already passed requests for the position of Medical Officers for the two new doctors.

The two new doctors also signed contract of service in front of Gov. Plaza, signifying their sincere willingness to serve the people of Agusan del Sur by working at the DOPMH for eight years.

At present, the provincial government of Agusan del Sur has 234 scholars for the School year 2011-2012. Under resolution No. 465 series of 2011, authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Cesar Alonde, 207 scholars were confirmed and approved for the first semester of School year 2011- 2012. The budget will be taken from non-office appropriations in the approved annual budget for the year 2011. Of the 207 scholars, 97 are full blooded indigenous students who will avail of free, full tuition fee, free board and lodging with allowances and they must be Enrolled in Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, and the Philippine Normal University. These 97 scholars came from all over the province, with two scholars per municipality.

Non-natives 70 scholars will have the same privileges as that of the 97 indigenous scholars. Another 12 are taking medicine Enrolled in different medicine Schools all of their choice all over the country. Another ten are nursing scholars, eight are persons with disability, five are taking up doctorate degree and another five, masteral degree.

In order to complete the 234 scholars, Resolution No. 433 authored by SP member Cesar Alonde was passed. It is a resolution confirming the 27 scholarship grantees of the Agusan del Sur distance learning scholarship program at the University of the Philippines Open University (UP-OU) effective School year 2011-2012 whose budget will also be taken from non-office appropriations in the approved annual budget for 2011. Courses for the distance learning ranges from Master of Development Communication, Master of Arts in Education, Diploma in Mathematics Teaching, Master of Arts in Nursing, Diploma in Computer Science, Diploma in Science Teaching, Diploma in Language and Literature Education, Diploma in Social Work and Master in Social Work, to Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies.