DAGUPAN CITY SURGES FORWARD
6,244 poor families in Dagupan get PhilHealth coverage
MAYOR Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Rep. Jose De Venecia Jr. provided health care insurance coverage last week to more than 6,000 indigent families in the city.
Fernandez led the simple distribution ceremony at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome, along with De Venecia’s wife, Gina, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez and members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod.
The city’s 31 barangay chairmen and volunteer workers also attended.
Fernandez said the beneficiaries were pre-qualified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Elsa Santillan in cooperation with the City Health Office headed by Dr. Leo Carbonell and the PhilHealth Insurance Corp.
The health insurance benefits cover discounts in hospitalization expenses, including medicines, doctor’s fee, laboratory examinations and other incidental expenses.
“The worldwide recession has made it more difficult for poor Dagupenos to get proper medical attention and treatment for lack of secure jobs and steady income. With these PhilHealth cards, we will be able to provide some solutions to their health problems,” Fernandez said.
Dagupan City holds the distinction as the first local government in the country to enroll its constituencies in the sponsored program of PhilHealth in 1998.
To date, Fernandez has obtained insurance coverage for more than 20,000 Dagupenos since his reelection in 2007.
The city was declared a “universal coverage area” by PhilHealth last February 15 with a special citation during the agency’s 15th anniversary celebration at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Fernandez said his administration will continue to make healthcare a top priority.
More than 15,310 residents have benefitted from various medical missions undertaken in cooperation with the public and private sectors, including non-government and civic groups, whose cumulative assistance has been valued at more than P10 million.
PHILHEALTH BENEFICIARIES–Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Vice-Mayor Belen Fernandez hand over PhilHealth family cards for distribution in Barangay Tebeng to Punong Barangay Roberto Dion on March 22 at the People’s Astrodome. Some 6,224 cards were distributed to the 31 barangays in the city. (CIO Photo by Glenn Lopez)
Census matters to our city, says Mayor Al
MAYOR Alipio Fernandez strongly urged all Dagupenos to cooperate and be counted during the 2010 Census of Population and Housing when enumerators begin working on May 17 until June 8.
“Census matters to our city,” he stressed as he underscored that census participation is the backbone of civic engagement.
He said the census data will offer a comprehensive picture on housing and the social and living conditions of the city in 2010.
“Only a census can provide such complete detail and the results are essential tools for effective policy, planning and decision making purposes,” Fernandez said.
He said the 2010 census is more than a population and housing count. Census data provide a snapshot of the changing population and will also help ensure appropriate representation for the city.
Non-participation in census surveys, the mayor added, can lead to undercounts and this would have an impact on civic engagement.
“The detailed population figures at community level will help identify the demand for schools and hospitals, areas of relatively high unemployment including the best location for new businesses,” the mayor said.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SEMINAR–Mayor Alipio F. Fernandez Jr. shares his views on basic business management during the Self Employment Assistance Training for Muslims organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office in cooperation with the city government of Dagupan and City Social Welfare and Development Office. (CIO Photo by Mitz Cresencio)
BIKEFEST CHAMP–Mayor Alipio F. Fernandez, Jr. presents the trophy to Alfredo Asuncion of Nueva Ecija, 1st placer in the “OO NA, NOYNOY NA” 235-kilometer bikefest which started in Subic Zambales and finished in Dagupan City, held March 23. (CIO Photo by Mitz Cresencio)
TRAINING ON FISH PROCESSING–Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. presents a certificate of completion to a graduate of the milkfish-processing course while Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Dr. Westly Rosario looks on during a ceremony held at the BFAR Office. The graduates will automatically become eligible for employment in the soon to be completed P110 million Seafood Processing Plant in the city. (CIO Photo)
LP CAMPAIGN–Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Noynoy Aquino greets attendees in the local vernacular during LP’s campaign rally on March 23 at the City Plaza in Dagupan hosted by Mayor Alipio F. Fernandez, Jr., who leads the LP’s local ticket. (CIO Photo by Mitz Cresencio)
“LABAN” FOR LP–The Liberal Party local line-up headed by Mayor Al F. Fernandez, Jr. and Vice-Mayor Belen Fernandez do the ‘laban’ hand sign with presidential bet Sen. Noynoy Aquino during the LP’s grand rally in Dagupan last March 23 at the City Plaza. (CIO Photo by MItz Cresencio)
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