News
4K Film Workers Now Have PhilHealth Coverage - June 29, 2006
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
and the Quezon City government recently enrolled 4,000
members of an organization of movie industry workers
into the Sponsored Program of PhilHealth to entitle
them to health care benefits, should movie production
and other situations require confinement.
In ceremonies held at the Amoranto Multi-Purpose Hall
in Quezon City, at least 1,382 PhilHealth ID cards were
initially released to members of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa
ng Pelikulang Pilipino (NMPP). The remaining 2,618 more
are still being processed by PhilHealth’s NCR
Central branch.
Lorna O. Fajardo, Acting PhilHealth President and CEO
thanked the NMPP officers for working towards the enrolment
of its members into PhilHealth. She addressed the card
recipients that while they did not pay any amount for
their enrolment, …mayroong nagbayad para sa
inyo, referring to the local government of Quezon
City.
She added that half of the P1,200 annual premium of
each enrolled member was paid for by the QC government
through Mayor Feliciano Belmonte while the other half
was shouldered by the national government. Ang card
na hawak ninyo ngayon ay nagbibigay dignidad sa bawat
miyembro. Taas-noo kayong magkakamit ng benepisyong
medikal sakaling kailanganin ninyo ito.
On the other hand, noted movie director and NMPP President
Joel Lamangan said that they are very happy that finally,
one of their projects for NMPP members had been realized.
He added that the PhilHealth enrolment was the biggest
program for members of the non-formal sector of the
Philippine movie industry that included stuntmen, bit
players, checkers, production assistants and even members
of the movie press.
Fellow movie director and NMPP Treasurer Mel Chionglo
said that this is the first time that an organization
in the movie industry has brought concrete social security
benefits for those who need these most. He added that
they have more projects in store for NMPP projects,
ranging from livelihood to housing opportunities.
Actor and NMPP Vice President for External Affairs Richard
Gomez said that the PhilHealth enrolment was a big help
to the enrolled members and that maraming tulong
pa ang kailangan, lalong-lalo na ng mga maliliit na
manggagawa sa industriya.
The NMPP is a three-year-old organization of workers
in the movie industry. In April this year, its officers
had exploratory talks with PhilHealth’s NCR Group
for the enrolment of these workers who did not have
regular sources of income.
Among the movie actors who graced the event were Rez
Cortez who signed up as an Individually Paying Member
and stuntman Baldo Maro.
In behalf of Belmonte, Councilor Ariel Inton lauded
PhilHealth’s and NMPP’s move, saying this
was a fitting tribute to the unsung heroes of the film
industry. He assured the card recipients that the PhilHealth
enrolment will certainly help them when medical emergencies
strike.
Among the benefits that the enrolled members may avail
themselves of are allowances for hospital room and board
fees ranging from P200 to P400 per day for 45 days in
a year; for drugs and medicines of up to P16,000 per
single period of confinement; and for x-ray and other
laboratory exams of up to P14,000.00 per single period
of confinement. These benefits may be availed of in
PhilHealth-accredited hospitals in Quezon City and in
other parts of the country.