Mayors say Governor is ‘Champion of the Poor’
LINGAYEN–In his vision to improve the condition of all sick and indigent Pangasinenses, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has called on all local chief executives to immediately find measures to identify the genuine “poorest of the poor” in their respective communities.
This developed as the province conducted a consultative meeting with local chief executives on PhilHealth enrollment under a sponsored program on June 7 at the Capitol Resort Hotel here.
The governor said each LGU must come up first with their list as to who the deserving recipients of the program are and check the data prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under their National Household Targeting System (NHTS) to avoid duplication of enrolment and systematize the assistance for the identified indigents.
Hailed by the mayors as a “champion of the poor,” Espino is assured of full support in his recent campaign to enroll all indigent Pangasinenses in PhilHealth.
“We are united with the governor in his crusade to help ease the burden of the sick and less privileged members of our society,” said Alcala Mayor Manuel Collado.
Furthermore, Espino said that after the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the province and the PhilHealth last June 4 that extends the program for a two-year lock-up scheme, all LGUs must work hand-in-hand to meet the deadline given by the agency, which is June 30, to avail of the P1,800 annual fee per enrollee.
The governor explained that there is a need to accomplish the list of enrollees to ensure that funds to be allocated will be properly used.
“We did all to improve all our hospitals in Pangasinan. We made them look and smell good. All hospitals are now prepared with new facilities to serve patients. What we have to do now is to determine the real poorest of the poor Pangasinenses to avail of the basic health services and benefits that we have prepared especially for them,” he said.
Meanwhile, mayors who attended the meeting had agreed that one percent of their annual budget will be allocated for PhilHealth enrolment.
The total premium payments paid by the province from 2007 to 2011 has amounted to P121.6 million.
Under the two-year lock-up program, the province is expected to enroll all indigent heads of family and their dependents by the year 2013 in its aim to support the national government’s call for universal enrollment.
After 2013, the province’s annual premium payment will increase from P1,800 to P2,400 per beneficiary. (PIO/RRB)
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