LGU reward system eyed to cut maternal mortality

Local governments which come closest to achieving the goal of reducing maternal mortality will be given a “seal of good housekeeping” and a corresponding funding for the program under a scheme being envisioned by the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).

Governor Alfonso Umali of Oriental Mindoro, president of the league, told the recent national health summit that all stakeholders should have “uniform data” on maternal mortality rate in the country.

“The LGUs get the seal—and get the fund for the program. But we should start with the right data, where we are now, to be able to succeed,” Umali told a media briefing at the 162 to 52 Coalition Summit on “Accelerating Collective Impact on Maternal and Child Health” at the PICC.

Umali, who also heads the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap), led a delegation of the LPP composed of Governors Josephine Sato (Occidental Mindoro), Carlos Jericho Petilla (Leyte), Junnie Cua (Quirino), Sol Matugas (Surigao del Norte), Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte), Rodolfo del Rosario (Davao del Norte), Eduardo Firmalo (Romblon) and Paul Daza (Northern Samar).

According to the United Nations Fund for Population Agency, 11 mothers die every day in the country from maternity-related causes.

“As of 2008, the Philippines had an adjusted maternal mortality ratio of 162 per 100,000 live births. This is far from the Millennium Development Goal target of 52 deaths per 100,000 live births,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said.