Celso enrolls anew 4,294 indigents in PhilHealth
Mayor Celso Lobregat Thursday morning distributes health insurance cards to different sectors coming from barangays within the 7-kilometer radius in line with his expanded PHILHEALTH program. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat and vice mayoralty candidate Councilor Cesar Iturralde yesterday led city government officials in the distribution of PhilHealth cards to 4,294 indigents during a program held at the Zamboanga City Coliseum in Tetuan.
The new PhilHealth beneficiaries included 2,974 indigents from the different barangays within the seven-kilometer radius of the city, 500 urban poor members, 250 Rural Improvement Club members, 160 senior citizens, 44 persons with disability, 57 job order employees of the city government, and 308 non-sectoral members for a total of 4,294.
Of the total, 294 were appropriated in 2009, while the remaining 4,000 were new beneficiaries for 2010.
Mayor Lobregat said that when he assumed office in 2004 there were only 3,993 PhilHealth beneficiaries with an appropriation of P2.39 million. In 2006 to 2008, the city had insured 5,000 more indigents. “But it was only in 2009 when we were able to practically cover all sectors in the city,” he said.
Lobregat attributed the massive PhilHealth insurance sponsorship to the city government’s sound fiscal management, which he initiated during his second term in office.
In 2009 alone, the mayor said, the city government had appropriated P3.9 million for the PhilHealth insurance of 6,500 indigents. When the year’s second supplemental budget was approved another P8.7 million was earmarked for the additional 14,000 beneficiaries.
In addition, the amount of P1.2 million was also appropriated last year for the insurance of 10,000 cooperative members, bringing to 24,000 the total PhilHealth beneficiaries sponsored by the city government.
This feat has earned for Zamboanga City the “Universal Coverage Award,” which Mayor Lobregat received from the PhilHealth Insurance Corporation during its 15th Anniversary celebration last month.
Joining Lobregat and Iturralde were Councilors Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Rey Candido, Gerky Valesco and Lilia Nuño together with council aspirants Roseller “Ller” Natividad, Percival Ramos, Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, Josephine “Pinpin” Pareja, Kaiser Olaso and VP Elago.
Also present were the barangay chairmen concerned, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo and staff, City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos and Commission on Elections (Comelec-9) representatives who conducted Voters’ Education on the automation voting. (Vic Larato)