Insuring health

PANGASINAN prides itself in being the number one province in terms of coverage under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Credit goes largely to the provincial government under Gov. Amado Espino Jr. who has made health reform a priority program, including the renovation and upgrade of provincial-run hospital facilities. At the same time, the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City, under the Department of Health, has also undergone major improvements and is set for a P1.2 billion expansion starting June this year that involves the construction of a new 11-storey building.

But with mid-term elections looming and a possibility of changes in leadership in the local governments, will the level of PhilHealth coverage in Pangasinan take a step backwards? Let’s hope not. Universal PhilHealth membership should be one of the priority platforms of local candidates, either re-electionists or newbies, — something that should be sustained and not merely used as a campaign tool. And taking the cue from the presence of President Benigno Aquino III in the launching of the expansion program of R1MC, medical services in Pangasinan could very well be consolidated with the national and provincial governments handling hospital facilities while the municipal and city governments focus on guaranteeing a broader PhilHealth coverage. Town and city administrations can also take care of strengthening barangay health centers and their links with the public hospitals.

Which brings the point of how incongruous and redundant the planned maternal and child hospital is of Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim. There will be sufficient public hospital infrastructure around Pangasinan. There is no need to spend millions of precious public funds on yet another one that will also be costly for the city in terms of operating expenses. The people’s money would be better spent in ensuring and strengthening their health insurance coverage.

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 ‘Surprise’ Pope

WE shouldn’t be surprised that our very own Cardinal Tagle, 55, did not make it as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. In the first place, he wasn’t really a major contender but, as Vatican watchers put it, “one of the five possible compromise candidates” for the papacy. None of the five made it. Likewise, that not one from the four listed “frontrunners” made it also was not a surprise. Also, none of the three other “potentials” was chosen. In short, the conclave of cardinals that elects the Pope is sworn to secrecy. The 12 contenders (the new Pope wasn’t among them), whose photos, including that of Cardinal Tagle, appeared on page one of a national broadsheet, were merely that: “contenders.” The truth is, the 115 cardinals tasked to elect the successor of the resigned Pope Benedict VXI, had all been “frontrunners.” Thus, when 77 cardinals or so chose Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina in the fifth balloting on March 13, there was no surprise there at all. Not even when the 76-year-old Bergoglio picked Francis as his papal name: He is a Jesuit, and St. Francis of Assisi, the saint of the poor and the birds, wasn’t just a Jesuit but a founder of the Society of Jesus at that.

So, be surprised no more. Pope Francis I is God’s choice. His will be done.

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