Wednesday, September 13, 2023; 9:00 pm, EST

Meeting was called to order at 9:10 pm, EST.
Presiding: Dr. Hernan M. Reyes, Chair, COPP
Attendance: Drs. Bayani Ignacio, Edgardo Navarro, Ed Barcelona, Pacifico Dorado, Francisca T.
Velcek, Honorio Cruz, Juan Montero, Ed Quiros, Philip Chua and Daniel Fabito.
Excused: Drs. Ed Gamboa, Rolly Mendiola and Aimee Mabini.
After a brief remark from the Chair, the meeting was called to order.

1. Minutes of the last meeting held last June 28, 2023, copies of which were distributed to
   the membership was approved following a motion made by Dr. Barcelona and seconded
   by Dr. Ignacio.
2. Dr. Fabito reported that all copies of the Golden Anniversary book has been sent to the
   membership. A group representing SPSA will meet with Dr. Beda Espineda, Director, PCS
   Sure Commission on either January 29 or 30, 2024 following completion of the various
   surgical missions conducted by SPSA and other organizations. Dr. Reyes volunteered to
   get in touch with Dr. Espineda to arrange this meeting and possibly a meeting with the
   Secretary of Health as well.
3. Dr. Barcelona reported that the current SPSA account is $59,058.00. There are currently
   no outstanding bills. He further reported as Co-Chair of the Surgical Mission Committee
   that the final SPSA Surgical Mission to the Philippines will be held on January 21 – 27,
   2024 in Borongan Provincial Hospital in Borongan City, Borongan, Eastern Samar with 26
   SPSA members and guests participating. Arrangements have been completed and two
   operating rooms will be available daily.
   Dr. Fabito also reported that the Medical/Surgical Mission organized by the Philippine
   American Association of Nevada with 40 missionaries participating including members
   of SPSA will be held on January 7 – 12 in Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The mission will include
   distribution of glasses to the community.
4. Dr. Reyes reported on the virtual meeting held between PCS Sure Commission members
   headed by Dr. Beda Espineda and SPSA represented by Drs. Reyes and Barcelona
   regarding the recently concluded Rural Surgery Outreach program conducted at the
   Gubat District Hospital in Gubat, Sorsogon. The program was considered a success. To
   summarize some background information: The province of Sorsogon, the southernmost
   part of Luzon is served by the Provincial Hospital in the City with 8 satellite District
   Hospitals distributed in various towns. These satellite hospitals while fully equipped for
   surgical care, has no permanent surgical and anesthesia staff to provide these services.
   Patients in far flung areas receive elective surgical care only from the Provincial Hospital
   or when volunteer surgeons and anesthesiologist from the Provincial Hospital staff
   decide to go to one of these district hospitals; resulting in patients with thyroid
   problems, gall bladder disease, breast lumps, hernias and other conditions wait for

years to have their care rendered. The SPSA-PCS Sure Commission Rural Surgery
program provided this much needed activity for three months. SPSA provided the
funding for general surgeons stipend including ancillary expenses and World .surgical
Foundation funded the anesthesiologist . PCS Sure Commission made all the
arrangements, including logistics and approvals from Government agencies.
Dr. Reyes responded to Dr. Dorado’s question regarding a feedback from the Host
Institution that there was a full report which included the number of cases operated on,
names of patients, pre and postoperative diagnosis, operation performed and outcomes
and a copy will be sent to all members of COPP. Dr. Fabito recommended that the
program should only be for a period of three months in order to benefit other
communities. A written recommendation to COPP from the Oversight Committee to
affirm SPSA’s full support of this program for at least three years was unanimously
approved following a motion made by Dr. Ignacio and seconded by Dr. Barcelona and a
report of our deliberations regarding this program will be transmitted to Dr. Espineda,
Director, PCS Sure Commission to include changes suggested by the members.

5. Status of the Rural Surgery Outreach Program oversight committee representing SPSA
   was discussed, The members present unanimously approved a motion made by Dr.
   Chua and seconded by Dr. Fabito that a permanent committee, named: Rural Surgery
   Outreach Program Committee be created. Dr. Hernan M. Reyes was elected to Chair this
   Committee with the following members: Drs. H. Cruz, Ed Barcelona, Rolly Mendiola and
   Juan Montero. Ex- Officio members: Dr. Bayani Ignacio, Incoming COPP Chair (January,
   2024), and Dr. Daniel Fabito, SPSA Executive Director.
6. New Business:
   Dr. Reyes will communicate with Dr. Espineda of PCS Sure Commission regarding a
   possible meeting with a delegation of SPSA members with PCS in Manila either on
   January 29 or 30, 2024 and hopefully with a conjoint meeting with the Secretary of
   Health.
   Dr. Chua, Convention Chair will explore possible SPSA-COPP cruise for 2024.
7. Old Business:
   a. Letters will be sent to each member regarding an approved tax exempt donation of
   $500.00 to SPSA in support of the Rural Surgery Outreach Program.
   b. The following members were requested to explore the possibility of their
   organizations to provide major funding support of the program: Dr. Francisca Velcek
   for UPMASA, Drs. Chua and Fabito for FEU and Dr. Dorado for his organization in his
   hometown in Ohio. Dr. Reyes will follow-up with Dr. Cordero regarding USTMAAA
   and Dr. Seldera for UE.
8. Adjourn:
   Unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting following a motion by Dr. Dorado and
   seconded by Dr. Cruz. Meeting was adjourned at 11:00 pm EST.
   Minutes recorded by: Dr. Hernan M. Reyes, August 15, 2023.