The Committee on Development Administration and Communication (CODAC) of the Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council (RDC2) met on March 14, 2022 for its first quarter meeting and endorsed for the RDC’s approval three resolutions which include the full implementation of online Professional Identification Card (PIC) renewal, inclusion of lung cancer in Philhealth’s Z benefits package and the implementation of the competitive compensation and benefits for public health workers.

The three resolutions were proposed earlier by the Central Visayas RDC who sought the support and endorsement of the RDC2.

“All of our services are online,” confirmed by Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) Cagayan Office Director Rodrigo F. Balaqui, Jr. However, the Commission cannot implement a full online renewal of PIC. It still requires the professionals to appear personally before the PRC because of reports that the license numbers of deceased professionals are being used. This concern has prodded the Commission to implement these additional measures.

Director Balaqui however assured that the Commission supports the resolution. “We are working on the re-engineering of all our processes nationwide including the frontline services,” he added.

Philhealth will endorse the inclusion of lung cancer to its Z benefits package to their Benefits Development and Research Department. Meantime, Dr. Sally Maddarang, clarified that there are case rates available to cover the cost for the management of lung cancer. “Philhealth has available case rates covering the management of lung cancer, since there is no Z benefit package that covers the whole treatment of lung cancer,” Dr. Maddarang offered.

To fast-track the issuance of the guidelines on the standardized and competitive benefits and incentives of public health workers, the Department of Budget and Management 2, through OIC-Regional Director (RD) Francis C. Bautista, affirmed its full support. He said that “The DBM through its Organization Position Classification and Compensation Bureau continuously reviews and develops policy standards and guidelines on the compensation and benefits of the national government agencies and local government units.”

The first quarter 2022 CODAC Meeting was presided over by the Committee’s Vice-Chairperson and Philippine Information Agency 2 RD Angely M. Lubo-Mercado on behalf of CODAC Chairperson and Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba.#