ANGELES CITY, Philippines – A total of 4,120 indigent residents here received PhilHealth cards distributed recently by the local government and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC).
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan led the distribution of health insurance cards at the activity center of MarQuee Mall. He was joined by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting and PHIC-Region 3 branch manager Arsenia Torres.
“Our beneficiaries were identified by the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD’s) National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction,” Torres said.
The beneficiaries came from 33 barangays in Angeles.
“The health insurance card covers social protection in terms of health care. It will be very useful for the less privileged in times of sickness,” Torres said.
“The local government plays an integral role in assuring that each member of the community is enrolled in the PHIC program,” she added.
Pamintuan, on the other hand, said the city government alone has more than 20,000 enrollees under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).
“As we aim for the best health programs, the additional cards doled out by the national government will take us closer to what we call universal health care for the Angeleños,” he said.
“In behalf of the people of Angeles, we are extending our gratitude to the management of PHIC and to President Aquino for making health care reachable to everyone,” Pamintuan said.
Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2012, the ational government has allotted P12.5 billion to ensure each Filipino’s health needs.
The local government of Angeles was able to expand its PhilHealth card coverage from 3,700 in 2010 to 27,200 this year.