City gov't earmarks P6M for Philhealth cards of 10T indigents
The Iloilo City government has allotted P6 million as payment for the Philhealth registration of its 10,000 indigents this year.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said this week, his office is slated to distribute Philhealth cards to the indigents identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). At present, the city has already released almost one-third of the target number of beneficiaries.
Treñas said the issuance of Philhealth cards is one project that has a great impact. He noted that with the P600 being paid for the premium, a member can readily avail of discounts and other benefits that go with it should he/she be hospitalized.
The project started in 2002 with just 2,000 indigents which increased up 10,000 this year. Treñas said if the funds are more than enough, he would even want to increase the current number of recipients because it doesn't even represent 10 percent of the entire number of households in the city.
Treñas cited that in addition to the Philhealth benefits of the indigents, the city government is also entitled to a a 50 percent rebate which is equivalent to P3 million.
Treñas said the amount will be used for the improvement of the various health centers in the city and for the staff who will be assigned to manage the centers.
(PNA)