“This activity will help us in making our constituents understand PhilHealth better and how important it is to have their health insured.”

This was how the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) who attended the Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) in Naga City recently unanimously said, when asked what the orientation means to them.

Mayor Ricardo Aquino of the municipality of Ragay in Camarines Sur admitted that he just learned about the orientation on the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) the day before the event but was quite excited in knowing that PhilHealth conducts this kind of activity, which he said will surely benefit not only the members but the LGUs as well. “Maganda itong activity na ito para sa amin at para sa mga kababayan namin upang maiparating sa kanila ang magagandang bagay tungkol sa programa ng PhilHealth at mas lalo nilang maunawaan at paano gamitin ang mga benepisyo,” the mayor pointed out.

Mayor Romeo Moreno of Paracale, Camarines Norte gladly shared that he had been supporting PhilHealth for almost nine years. “Malaki ang naitutulong ng PhilHealth sa aking mga constituents at sa rehabilitasyon at pagpapaunlad ng aming munisipyo sa pamamagitan ng capitation fund,” he said.

PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon F. Aristoza Jr. acknowledged that “hindi namin kayang abutin ang universal health coverage (UHC) kung wala kaming katuwang sa pagpapalaganap nito. Without the help of our LCEs and private partners, it will be very difficult for us to reach UHC.”

For his part, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Alexander A. Padilla said that members of the program are PhilHealth’s priority and he hoped that all who are not still covered and cannot afford to pay premium will avail of the point of care (POC) enrolment in hospitals where they may be confined. Padilla told the LCEs that “with your help, we hope that our enrolment goes up.” Padilla also believed that health should be a priority of all, and that members need to be empowered with information about their benefits. “Ang usapin sa kalusugan ay hindi puwedeng hindi natin pakialaman, and we want our members to know their benefits and to avail of these benefits, so I hope that all the information you will learn today will be disseminated effectively to your constituents,” Padilla further said.

In parting, the PhilHealth Chief issued a call to the LGUs, “baka puedeng maging collecting agents kayo ng PhilHealth para lahat ng negosyong binibigyan ninyo ng permits ay tiyak na registered sa PhilHealth.”

Topics discussed during the SHInES orientations were the NHIP Act of 2013, which was presented by Area II Assistant Vice President Dr. Shirley B. Domingo; the membership program by OIC Vice President for Membership Management Group, Alberto Manduriao; the New and Enhanced PhilHealth Benefits by Vice President for Quality Assurance Group, Dr. Francisco Soria Jr.; and the role of LCEs by PRO V Regional Vice President Orlando Iñigo. An open forum followed the presentations.

The same module was presented during the SHInES for media participants earlier, but this time the OIC Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group and official PhilHealth Spokesperson, Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas presented the New and Enhanced PhilHealth benefits, while the role of media in advocating the NHIP was discussed by Maria Sophia B. Varlez, Senior Manager of the Corporate Communication Department. This activity was also intended to inculcate among media participants better appreciation of the NHIP as they relate to general public through the stories they write.

The LCE component was attended by some 156 participants that included 11 mayors, 10 vice mayors, 3 provincial health officers, 16 municipal health officers and 1 Chief of Hospital while around 28 local media attended the event. (Amelita L. Buted, PRO IV/CorComm)