Lanao del Norte to host PhilHealth Run

LANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines – The PhilHealth Run 2013 hits the road on Feb. 17 with Lanao del Norte tapped as a plus site or an additional race venue.

The province has been affiliated as a PhilHealth run partner organizer, authorized to conduct local running event with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). Lanao del Norte is so far the only plus site approved by PhilHealth. 

With PhilHealth as the main organizer, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), roads in 18 sites across the nation will be taken over as PhilHealth stages the first simultaneous nationwide running event. 

Runners will converge in 18 major cities, including Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Butuan and Marawi. 

Lanao del Norte, through Gov. Khalid Dimaporo, along with Rep. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo, had invited neighboring cities like Iligan and Ozamis to join the event. They expect to draw more than 4,000 runners, according to Ayesah Macumbal, officer-in-charge of PhilHealth Iligan branch. 

Proceeds from this event will be used to support national and regional institutions promoting the protection of mothers and children in the country. At the local level, the rural health unit (RHU) of Tangcal town, Lanao del Norte, will be the beneficiary, while PhilHealth’s national beneficiary will be the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. 

More than just a running event, it endeavors to uphold the importance of mother’s and children’s health in the challenge of nation-building.