Angging pushes for traditional med; Mayor, Inday Sara graced herbal garden launching

DAVAO CITY --No less than Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and daughter Sara graced the launching of Councilor Librado's project last March 7, 2006 at Gulf View, Bago Aplaya. The "Healing Herbal Garden", intended for the residents of Barangays Bago Aplaya, Dumoy, Bago Gallera, Baliok and Catalunan Pequeño, was formally launched to encourage residents to shift to alternative medicine.

"In these times of financial crisis, medicines are often not on the list of prioritites for families. Especially mothers who take charge of the family budget, the high cost of medicines are often the reason why they simply choose not to buy over the counter pharmaceutical products," says Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad who chairs the SP Committee on Women and Children.She added that instead of resorting to costly medicines for the family, alternative medicine, particularly the use of herbal plants as medication for common illnesses, is much helpful.

The City Mayor echoed this belief citing that we should encourage more communities to make use of available herbal plants. "Hatagan nato ug pagtagad ang pag-develop sa herbal medicine para dili na (ta) dependent sa mga synthetic medicines na mahal kaayo o negosyo lang sa langyaw."

The office of Councilor Trinidad has started since last year a program for women where the use of alternative medicines is encouraged. "As part of our Women Education Series, we cite the importance of such practices as complementary to our advocacy and objective of developing a comprehensive health program for women." The councilor's office is currently undergoing mobile reproductive health services such as free Pap smears, blood typing, medical kit turn-overs and dental missions in different barangays in the first district. ###