Naga City, Camarines Sur--- All roads led to the SM City Naga grounds as PhilHealth Regional Office V recently staged the second Simultaneous Nationwide Run dubbed SiNaRu, which gathered 4,086 registered runners to benefit the Naga City Children’s Home (NCCH) and the Agta- Tabangnon Tribe of Buhi, Camarines Sur.

The SiNaRu is PhilHealth’s way of paying it forward, of ensuring that no one gets left behind as it continues the race towards universal health care. The beneficiaries chosen for this year are the children under the care of the NCCH and the indigenous peoples of Buhi, Camarines Sur: the Agta-Tabangnon tribe. With this year’s carrier theme: ‘PhilHealth: Ready, TSeKaP, Go!,’ the PhilHealth run aims to drumbeat the primary care benefits branded as Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya, through a fun run that aims to encourage members to take a more pro-active stand in their health-seeking habits.

The expected income from the Run will help provide a river ambulance to the tribe, to make sure that there is ready access to health care in cases of emergency.

Potable water system for Kabihug Tribe

PhilHealth Regional Office V’s celebration of the National Health Insurance Program Month kicked off with the official turnover ceremony of the potable water system donated to the Kabihug Tribe.

Regional Vice President Orlando D. Iñigo, Jr. led the PhilHealth team who trekked the uphill trail to the ancestral domain of the Kabihug Tribe in Barangay Osmeña, Jose Panganiban last February 11, 2015. No rain or mud could keep the team from reaching out to this sector of the society, in true PhilHealth style.

The potable water system is part of the proceeds of the first SiNaRu held last 2013 with the carrier theme “Run for Mother and Child Protection”. PRO V, in consultation with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Regional Office V, decided to provide a potable water system to help eliminate water- borne diseases in the area.

Meanwhile, using 2013 SiNaRu proceeds, all Local Health Insurance Offices under PRO V completed the turnover of delivery beds to RHUs and LGUs with high maternal mortality rates. Through this move, the PRO aims to encourage pregnant women to choose facility-based delivery over the traditional method of hilot to ensure that they are able to maximize their PhilHealth benefits.

Support for Champions of the Environment

“Because all things are connected.”

Fast forward to 2015, PRO V selected the Agta-Tabangnon Tribe of Buhi to be the beneficiary of the second SiNaRu. A personal advocacy of Iñigo, supporting this tribe is made to make sure that this sector of society is given due importance as they are the closest one can get to history and at the same time, the strongest champions of the environment.

In his opening message during the run, Inigo stressed the importance of caring for the environment, quoting Chief Seattle’s 1854 speech on the environment: "How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?”

In ensuring community participation and co- ownership of environment protection, Inigo also led the tree-planting activity at the Kabihug’s ancestral domain to help the Bihugs in cultivating their lands.

Following Inigo’s lead, the children of the Kabihug Tribe underscored his speech as they sang the originally composed “Musika para sa Kalikasan” during the opening ceremonies of the 2015 SiNaRu. This is how the Bihugs expressed their appreciation to the runners and partners who made possible the availability of the water system in their ancestral home.

Making access to health and healthcare easier for all

This year’s Run is expected to generate at least Php800,000 in proceeds, and a major portion of it will be used to provide a river ambulance to the Agta-Tabangnons, to make access to health care easier especially during emergencies.

The runners who participated in this year’s SiNaRu unite with PRO V with hopes of addressing the needs of these IPs. It was overwhelming to see kids, senior citizens, ex-patriates, and even Persons with Disabilities join this advocacy. Indeed, social solidarity is still at the core of the Bicolano’s values, thereby truly ensuring universal coverage for all. (Annel San Pablo)