“Nu madama ti surgery ket bigla maawan ti kuryente…that just shows how vulnerable we are”: Kalinga PHO Tandingan recommends supplemental budget for fuel to aid local gov’t hospitals

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Office of the Provincial Health Office (OPHO), headed by PHO II Dr. Edward Tandingan, raised concerns that local hospitals—particularly the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH)—are at risk due to power outages and fuel shortages.

During the Local Energy Crisis Task Force meeting, Tandingan said the current situation exposes the vulnerability of the health sector, especially during ongoing surgeries and critical treatment services, which he described as their primary concern.

“Kabutbuteng for us and our treatment services nu maawan bigla ti kuryente, and that just shows how vulnerable we are in the health sector. For instance, nu madama ti surgery ket bigla maawan ti kuryente? That is what we are most worried about,” he said.

Tnadingan emphasized that the health sector can only implement administrative interventions for now, which serve as temporary solutions. Tandingan shared that the office is also exploring long-term interventions to ensure hospitals can continue functioning safely.

For administrative measures, Dr. Tandingan said hospitals are focusing on basic conservation practices such as turning off lights and water when not in use.

“For the health sector, awan ti maaramid mi nga interventions other than administrative interventions. These are very basic and we think everybody already knows them—turn off the lights when not in use, and conserve water as well, ta importante ti water. Haan nga agbyag ti hospital nu awan ti danum.

The office is also considering the acquisition of generators, subject to the availability of provincial funds. However, according to Tandingan, fuel supply remains a major challenge.

The health office further called for supplemental fuel allocation, noting that shortages put urgent treatments and patient referrals at risk.

“We are suggesting nga adda kuma supplemental for fuel kasi anytime nga agdawat tayo, adda dagitoy pasyente tayo nga mai-refer iti other areas. When this happens, ket talaga agkurang ti fuel supply. Nagrigat nga kitkitaan ti pasyente nga kailangan na maoperahan and we have to run to our referral hospitals. The health sector is really very vulnerable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tandingan stressed that while administrative measures like conserving electricity and water may help in the short term, the vulnerability of the health sector remains a pressing concern.