Health, social services cmtes discuss proposed mental health code

THE joint City Council committees on health and social services chaired by Councilors Maria Lourdes S. Gaane and Joyleen Mercedes L. Balaba continued discussions on the proposed ordinance providing for a Community-Based Mental Health Program and delivery system in the City of Cagayan de Oro, to be known as the Mental Health Ordinance of the City of Cagayan de Oro.

During the meeting Wednesday, Dr. Jaymee Leonen, member of the Technical Working Group (TWG), said the TWG is working on the final incorporation of the comments and suggestions presented. She said these are being consolidated with the guidance of the City Council.

“Kulang na lang gyud og polishing,” she reported.

Councilor Jocelyn Rodriguez, one of the proponents of the ordinance, said some provisions need to be polished prior to the final recommendation.

Councilor Reuben Daba, vice-chair of two committees, supported the move of Councilor Gaane to trim down and limit the membership of the TWG so as not to cause quorum problems.

For his part, Dr. Ramon Moreno, co-chair of the Local Health Board, acknowledged the urgency of approving the ordinance citing incidents of suicide in the city.

He, however, pointed out that suicide is only a part of the mental health problem. The ordinance will have a broader coverage of the mental health problem, he pointed out.

Dr. Moreno added that the provisions of the proposed ordinance will have to be thoroughly reviewed by the Local Health Board.

Councilors Gaane and Balaba referred the draft of the proposed ordinance to the Local Health Board for further study.

Councilor George Goking was also present during the committee meeting.