The Operation Giving Back Bohol Mission team from the United States Team will hold another Philippine surgical mission in Bohol on February 20-27, 2016.
As bared by Fancy S. Baluyot, president/chief executive officer of the Philippine Gift of Life (PGL) Foundation and consultant for both Gov. Edgar Chatto’s Medical & Surgical Missions and the Tagbilaran City Health Services and Programs, the humanitarian undertaking will kick off on February 21.
The team will arrive on February 20 for the week-long mission, which is an annual event serving as birthday gift of Chatto and Dr. Renato Rivera, head of the mission group, to the less fortunate and marginalized Boholano patients.
The surgical team involves volunteer doctors from Illinois, West Virginia, Arizona, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Florida, California, Connecticut, Mississippi and Idaho, all in the US, and Canada.
They will perform the multi-case operation at the Borja Family Hospital in Tagbilaran City under its medical director, Dr. Melinda R. Borja, together with the Philippine team led by Dr. Kazan S. Baluyo and Dr. Jose G. Borja, who are hospital consultant and director, respectively.
The mission is being sponsored by the Provincial Government of Bohol thru Chatto, Vice Gov. Concepion Lim, SP Committee on Health thru its chairman, Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, and Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II.
It is coordinated by the PGL thru its chairman, Dr. Ramie A. Cadag, Baluyot  and vice president, Fr. Victor G. Bompat, City Government of Tagbilaran under Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso and City Administrator Leonides Borja.
It is assisted by the Department of Health (DOH) thru Sec. Janette Garin and Usec. Elmer Punzalan and the Borja Family Hospital, the latter also thru its administrator, Dr. Mia Borja-Chiong.
Further, the mission is supported by the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran thru its president, Mildred Kascher, vice president, Rodolfo Pedralba, and assistant district governor, Engr. Victor Bantol; Offices of 2nd District Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado and 3rd District Rep Arthur Yap, and Bohol Island State University (BISU) thru its president, Dr. Elpidio Magante.
Target cases for the free massive operation include thyroidectomies (goiter), TAHBSO (myoma), cholecystectomy (gallbladder), cyst and hernia, among other special cases.
Damalerio said potential mission beneficiaries can visit the Gift of Life Office   at the ground floor of the provincial capitol building, Marapao St., Tagbilaran City, or they may contact the phone number (038) 501-9196 for further details and inquiries as listing of patients are now on-going.
The PGL Board of Trustees includes Cadag as chairman; Baluyot, president/CEO; Fr. Bompat, vice president; Peter Dejaresco, corporate secretary; Engr. Albert Uy, treasurer; Benjamin Ong, auditor; Dr. Ludgerio D. Torres, chief consultant; and Dr. Mary Ann Ruiz, Richard Uy, Dr. Pepe Recitas, Dr. Edgar Lerias, Joseph Alagon, Engr. Bantol, Toto Jabonillo and Cates Climaco, directors;
The other consultants are Dr. Avelino Aventura, Dr. Francisco Dizon, Dr. Florante Lomibao, Dr. Federico Malubay, Baluyot (Kazan), Dr. Ma. Lourdes Casas, Â Dr. Edgardo Ortiz, Dr. Elmer Punzalan, Dr. Julia Maape, Dr. Joseph Clawson and Dr. Ma. Bernadette Azcueta.
Gov. Chatto and Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak are Gift of Life advisers.