Province to maximize PhilHealth coverage

CEBU, Philippines - The plan of Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon to tie up with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in his health program may be expanded throughout the province.

Salimbangon and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in a meeting initially agreed to maximize the PhilHealth coverage especially for the unemployed not only in the fourth district but the entire province.

Garcia has launched the PhilHealth Indigency Program five years ago as the first in the country, while Salimbangon also has his Benhur Health Program, which provides each cardholder the maximum of P5,000 for hospital and medical expenses in government hospitals.

During the meeting, Garcia told Salimbangon beneficiaries will get more if the program would be tied up with PhilHealth.

PhilHealth premiums pegged at P600 per family in first and third class municipalities and P420 per family in fourth to sixth class.

The Province of Cebu sets aside P30 million yearly for payments of premiums of the enrollees to the PhilHealth Indigency Program.

To maximize the coverage, Garcia presented an option for the province to set aside P120 million for payments of premiums targeting 25 to 30 percent of the total unemployed population in the province.

Salimbangon said they could come up with P60 million for the province if the six congressmen agree to put up P10 million each from their Priority Development Assistance Fund for the program.

Garcia asked PhilHealth to consider the entire province and not to distinguish what levels of poor families in every class of municipalities with subsidized rate of P420 per family.

PhilHealth is still studying the option presented by the governor.

If approved, this is again another milestone for the Province of Cebu to be the first in the country to avail of the subsidized rate.

Garcia is set to meet Salimbangon again and other representatives in the province to discuss the proposal.

“I want this to already be decided upon signed, sealed and delivered by the end of this month,” Garcia said.

A memorandum of agreement will be signed to put everything in order, she added.

Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday visited the southern towns of Oslob and Boljoon to attend the inauguration of the projects there that are funded through his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Zubiri, who is in town to witness the Sinulog Grand Parade today, has allocated P1 million from his PDAF to finance the construction of the municipal social hall of Oslob and the construction of water reservoir in Boljoon.

Oslob Mayor Ronald Guarin said the municipal social hall, which they have long been dreaming of, is finally materialized because of the assistance of the senator.

Aside from Oslob, Zubiri has also donated another P1 million for the construction of a water reservoir in Boljoon.

Boljoon Mayor Teresita "Daday" Celis said the project would improve the delivery of water in the town, adding the residents can now avail of safe and potable water supply. (FREEMAN)