Lobregat distributes health insurance to 3,512 indigents
Mayor Celso Lobregat spearheads the distribution of renewal health insurance cards to some 3,000 indigent and various sectors under the expanded Philhealth program of the city government. Assisting the mayor during the distribution held at the City Coliseum Tuesday morning are members of the City Council. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday distributed anew PhilHealth cards to 3,512 indigent residents and special groups from 39 barangays of the city, bringing to almost 18,000 the total number of indigents to have received the health insurance from the city government.
The latest number of beneficiaries included 2,601 renewals of the December 2009 batch, 500 new urban poor members, 240 from the special groups and 171 renewals for the September 2009 batch.
The organized groups were Kabalikat with 16 members, Cafgu of Talon-Talon, 34; Media Group Zebra, 11; Radio Group Alert, 21; Crime Watch Tetuan, 13; Clean & Green, 42; Special Farming, 3; and Solid Waste workers, 100.
The indigent beneficiaries were pulled from barangays Arena Blanco, 43; Baliwasan, 128; Bagong Calarian, 119; Boalan, 39; Cabatangan, 51; Camino Nuevo, 74; Campo Islam, 37; Canelar, 114; Capisan, 8; Divisoria, 52; Dulian (Pasonanca), 15; Guiwan, 104; Kasanyangan, 38; Landang Gua, 11; Landang Laum, 15; Lumayang, 29; Lumbangan, 10; Lunzuran, 38; Malagutay, 59; Mampang, 136; Mariki, 29.
Pasonanca, 149; Putik, 113; Rio Hondo, 58; San Jose Cawa-Cawa, 38; San Jose Gusu, 102; San Roque, 130; Sta. Barbara, 28; Sta. Catalina, 75; Sta. Maria, 153; Sto. Ni–o, 24; Talon-Talon, 120; Tetuan, 219; Tugbungan, 147; Tumaga, 160; Zone I, 17; Zone II, 36; Zone III, 18, and Zone IV, 30.
Venus Giron, Philhealth’s Social Insurance Officer for Membership said that documents are now being processed for the enrolment of more than 4,000 beneficiaries in the insurance by the city government under Lobregat’s administration.
To recall, the insurance grant by the city government started with only 500 beneficiaries during the time of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat and being continued by her son, Celso, with a total of almost 18,000 enrollees and counting.
Giron said enrollees for 2010 is expected to reach some 30,000.
Joining Lobregat in the distribution of PhilHealth cards were Councilors Cesar Iturralde, Rey Candido, Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Gerky Valesco and Eddie Saavedra together with former City Hall Chief Executive Assistant Roseller “Ller” Natividad, former Executive Assistant Percival Ramos, Talisayan barangay chairperson Josephine “Pinpin” Pareja, Michael Alavar, VP Elago, Keiser Olaso and Prof. Erbert “Bong” Atilano; City Social Welfare Officer Francisco Barredo and Philhealth staff. (Vic Larato)