KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/02 October) – A hundred indigents from Kidapawan City in North Cotabato received from the Department of
Health (DOH) in Southwestern Mindanao (Region 12) health insurance cards during the nationwide launching today of Philhealth Sabado, one
of the flagship health projects of the Aquino administration which aims to give the poorest of the poor quality health services through
Philhealth.
Kidapawan City is one of 13 registration sites for “Philhealth Sabado, Magseguro, Magparehistro.”
The day-long registration activity is aimed at “ensuring that all Filipinos gain access to financial protection for their
hospitalization needs.”
“In particular, we would like to reach out to our fellowmen who are not yet members but who have the financial means to pay for their
premium contributions,” PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Rey B. Aquino, had earlier said.
Hundreds of residents trooped to the Kidapawan City Pilot Elementary School (KCPES) to register.
The DoH-initiated Philhealth registration is supported by local government units (LGUs) across the region.
Records from the City Information Office showed that as of September, the LGU has distributed 6,680 Philhealth cards for poor residents.
Most of those who received the cards were drivers of skylab or habal-habal (local term for extended motorcycles), senior citizens,
and urban poor women who are members of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (Kalipi) from 49 villages of this city.
City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco said that they started the Philhealth Para Sa Masa program since 2007.
The program covers the hospitalization and check-up of Philhealth card-bearing members.
“They only pay less during treatment or pay only the excess fees they incurred during the hospitalization,” said Gantuangco.
In 2009, the City LGU was recognized by Philhealth-12 as one of the most active LGUs in the implementation of the National Philhealth Insurance program.
In North Cotabato, Philhealth cards were also distributed in towns of Midsayap, Makilala, and M’lang.
At least 49,000 indigent families in Region 12 are expected to avail of the program, according to DoH-12 regional director Dr. Abdullah
Dumama. The province of Sarangani, records show, has the most number of indigent families in the region. (Malu Cadelina-Manar/MindaNews)
