City to insure day care pupils

 CEBU, Philippines - All day care pupils in Cebu City public schools will be provided with insurance coverage by the city government effective immediately.

Mayor Michael Rama ordered that the cost of the project shall be taken from the budget of the City Hospital Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP).

Rama explained that giving the day-care pupils free insurance coverage is a project of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) in line with the provision of the Constitution which recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building.

The mayor said that the city, under his administration, aims to promote its endeavor in making the city friendly and liveable for children.

During the previous administration of then mayor and now Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña, the city was awarded for being child-friendly because of its program caring for street children.

Rama said the city has the obligation to ensure the safety and protection of children from all causes of child mortality as identified by health experts.

Rama already signed the executive order that established the guidelines for the grant of life and accident insurance coverage to all day-care pupils in the city’s public schools.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said the insurance premium for each of the students is only P45 and the city is very willing to shoulder the cost.

The city will hire the services of a private insurance company and the cost of the insurance shall be charged to the P100 million budget under the City Hospitalization and Medicine Program (CHAMP).

“The fund for CHAMP shall be accessed not only to answer the needs of patients, but shall also be available for the prevention of the illness and hospitalization of constituents especially children,” the mayor said.

Rama directed DSWS head Ester Concha to coordinate with the day care centers in the city’s 80 barangays to come up with the official list of pre-schooler beneficiaries.  (FREEMAN)