4Ps Families in Oriental Mindoro Prepped for UMID May 22, 2012

BENEFICIARIES of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in at least six (6) municipalities in Oriental Mindoro are now being prepped for the issuance of the Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) card which will make transactions with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Government Service Insurance System, (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) more convenient.

At the ceremonial launch of the biometric capture activity at the Provincial Capitol in Calapan City recently, at least 50 Naujeños underwent biometric data capture, the basic process required of members prior to the issuance of the UMID card. The process entails capturing the members' biometric data such as signatures, facial features, fingerprints and other personal identity data that will eventually be stored in their UMID cards that the accredited health care providers need only to swipe to verify member eligibility and facilitate benefits availment.

The launch of the biometric capture activity was witnessed by Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali Jr., Mayors Maria Angeles Casubuan of Naujan and Jose Ildefonso Maliwanag of Mansalay towns. Also present were PhilHealth Regional Office IV-B Vice President Paolo Johann C. Perez and UMID Project Management Office Coordinator Robert Paguia.

"Masuerte tayo at una na naman tayo na nagkaroon nitong biometric capture sa buong Pilipinas," Umali told his constituents, adding that "...kahit ano'ng mangyari, 'pag meron na kayong card, irerenew namin kayo automatic bawat January so wala kayong dapat alalahanin... tuloy tuloy na ito, definitely, hanggang matapos ang programa, ay kasama kayo."

On the other hand, Casubuan was thankful that the municipality of Naujan was chosen as the first site of the biometric capture activity in the whole Oriental Mindoro province. She also reminded her constituents on the importance of having health insurance. "Number one po na dapat talaga nating lagyan ng investment ay ang ating kalusugan... kagaya po ng PhilHealth na talagang nararamdaman natin ang programang ito pagdating natin ng ospital," she said.

The 50 Naujenos are part of the 26,619 heads of indigent families including Mangyans, who will undergo the biometric data capture activity. These residents come from the municipalities of Pola, Bansud, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Bongabong and Naujan. They are beneficiaries of PhilHealth’s SAGIP or the Strengthening and Guaranteeing Insurance for the Poor Project which is an important component of the Social Protection Support Initiatives (SPSI) Program which aims to introduce interventions that will enable PhilHealth’s poor members to pay for and sustain their health insurance coverage.

A composite team from PhilHealth, the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, and Budget and Management, and the local government units also conducted information caravans in the six (6) towns to orient the residents on the various technical and livelihood skills interventions that will be introduced to them to help uplift their economic condition.

The biometric capture activity in Oriental Mindoro is expected to be completed by July this year. (END) (by Maria Sophia B. Varlez; photos by Juanito G. Pineda)