Department of Health

Receiving Officer 08:26 AM, Nov 13, 2023

November 13, 2023

Dear Jinky Millen,

Thank you for your request dated Nov 12, 2023 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.

We received your request on Nov 12, 2023 and will respond on or before Dec 01, 2023 10:01:57 AM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPSC05NTY1MzE5OTYwOTMM, for request with ticket number #DOH-956531996093.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Maker 09:50 AM, Nov 13, 2023

Good day!

Please be informed that we have endorsed your request to Bureau of Local Health Systems Development (BLHSD) for action. We'll send you feedback once we get their response.

Thank you.

Maker 01:10 PM, Jan 30, 2024

January 30, 2024

Dear Jinky Millen Boa,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Nov 12, 2023 10:01:57 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your Request

You asked for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.

Response to Request

Your FOI request is approved. 

The GIDA List 2010 was based on the GIDA mapping conducted and submitted by the CHDs and MOH BARM to the Bureau of Local Health Development (BLHD) in reference to Administrative Order No.185 series of 2004, Establishment of the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in Support to Local Health Systems Development.

 It was in 2019 when the DOH through the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development (BLHSD) issued Department Memorandum No. 2019 – 0277 “Consolidated List of Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas Based on the Submission of the Centers for Health Development and Ministry of Health- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as of April 30, 2019”. The list was based on whatever updated list the regions have as of April 30, 2019 for the BLHSD to come up with the updated list of GIDA in that year.

 

With the approval of the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 or Republic Act No. 11223 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations which mandate the DOH to develop guidelines for identifying GIDA barangays and update the list of underserved and unserved areas annually, Administrative Order No. 2020-0023, “Guidelines on Identifying Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and Strengthening their Health Systems” was developed.

 

Through yearly issuance of a Department Memorandum, a guideline addressed to CHDs and MOH BARMM, the regions including their local government units are directed to conduct the annual updating of the GIDA List with the assistance of the BLHSD. The GIDA list from 2020 onwards were guided by AO No. 2020-0023, wherein annual updating is being done while profiling is conducted every three years.

The developed GIDA Profiling and Information System Toolkit serves as a guide for all stakeholders in the GIDA profiling, validation and uploading of data in the GIDA Information System. This GIDA IS is the core monitoring and evaluation system of AO 2020-0023 which provides information on the current health status and health intervention gaps in the identified GIDAs.

 Attached are the following issuances, for reference:

1.      AO No. 185 s. 2004, “Establishment of the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in Support to Local Health Systems Development”

2.      DM No. 2019-0277“Consolidated List of Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas Based on the Submission of the Centers for Health Development and Ministry of Health- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as of April 30, 2019”.

3.      AO No. 2020-0023, “Guidelines on Identifying GIDA and Strengthening their Health Systems”

4.      DM No. 2021-0295, “Dissemination of the GIDA Profiling and Information System Toolkit”

visit the issuances on this link for your reference

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1n2YUKk0WqYPGKEGh8qJYyah3taeoIlJb?usp=sharing

 Thank you.


Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to the Central Appeals and Review Committee, at foi@doh.gov.ph. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Decision Maker
FOI Receiving Officer