'ALAGA KA'. Senator Cynthia Villar talks with Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado while provincial board member Ayee Ople (right), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena Joson-Tiongson (2nd from right), former Board Member Monet Posadas (left) and Mina Fermin look on during the launching of the "Alaga Ka Program” held at Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, March 18, 2019. (Photo by Manny Balbin)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -– Some 4,000 Bulakenyos will now have free access to primary health care services.
This, as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) distributed to beneficiaries their Member's Data Record (MDR) during the launching of "Alaga Ka Program” held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city on Monday.
The PhilHealth spearheaded the program, in coordination with the provincial government of Bulacan, to inform and educate Bulakenyos regarding the benefits that members can avail of upon enrolling for their membership.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena Joson-Tiongson said that PhilHealth, through the National Household Targeting System, conducted the selection of beneficiaries in the province.
A total of 150 people where chosen to represent each of 21 municipalities, while 300 beneficiaries were selected from each of the city of Malolos and towns of Pulilan and Plaridel.
PhilHealth Social Insurance Officer Angelika Del Mundo said that members are entitled to free preventive services such as consultation, visual inspection, regular blood pressure monitoring, breastfeeding program education, periodic clinical breast examinations, counselling for lifestyle modification, counselling for smoking cessation, body measurements and digital rectal examination.
Members can also avail of free diagnostic examinations like complete blood count, urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile and chest x-ray.
Del Mundo said the beneficiaries can also use their membership when purchasing drugs and medicines for asthma including nebulization services.
PhilHealth Social Officer Mary Rose Cruz, on the other hand, said that PhilHealth services can be used unlimitedly for childbirth though only the spouse, parent or child can be allowed to claim the benefits on behalf of the member or depending on who were declared in the MDR.
Governor Wilhemino M. Sy-Alvarado and Vice Governor Daniel R. Fernando expressed their support for the endeavor and reminded Bulakenyos of the importance of having good health.
Alvarado also disclosed the continuous upgrading of district hospitals to provide quality health care to Bulakenyos.
Senator Cynthia Villar graced the event as guest speaker and delved on the Universal Health Care Law, which would provide health care coverage to all Filipinos, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last February.
Meanwhile, Michelle Daquigan, a pregnant woman from the City of Meycauayan and one of the beneficiaries, expressed her appreciation and gratitude to PhilHealth and the provincial government of Bulacan.
“Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa panganganak ko lalung-lalo na sa mga gastos sa ospital at gamot (this is big help in my childbirth especially on the hospital expenses and medicines)," she said. (PNA)
