“After 11 years, we have finally expanded our Local Health Insurance Office in Kidapawan for better and more accessible services to our increasing clients and stakeholders,” said PhilHealth XII Regional Vice President, Dr. Miriam Grace G. Pamonag during the recent blessing ceremony for the expanded LHIO.
The office started its operations in 2002 with only ten (10) personnel led by the Service Office Head, Ivy E. Monderin. It was catering to an average of 200-250 clients per day. Today, it is now known as the Local Health Insurance Office, still headed by Monderin with 13 personnel catering to an average of 500-600 clients per day.
“With the opening of our office at the ground floor of Apol-J Building here along Quezon Boulevard at the heart of the city, we can already serve more clients and make their visit to our office more convenient and accessible,” Monderin said.
This development, according to Monderin, helps those who are differently-abled, the pregnant women and senior citizens in transacting with PhilHealth. She thanked the management, the Regional Office and the LHIO personnel for the support and recognized the Local Government of Kidapawan for the sustainable implementation of its indigent program since it was launched in 2002 by then Mayor Rodolfo Y. Gantuangco.
Current City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista said that as a leader, he invests a lot on education and health. “Let us go down to the basics. Even our job order workers are now covered with PhiHealth. We also aim that all barangay stations will be PhilHealth-accredited. I really want to help you deliver your services down to the barangay level.”
To address questions about PhilHealth’s programs and services, Evangelista provided a table in his office and assigned somebody to handle it. He also thanked the Kidapawan personnel for being accommodating and pro-active. “I just encourage you to keep smiling while serving.”
The mayor also challenged PhilHealth to set up a closed circuit TV monitor in front of its office for the safety, security and protection of the clients. “Good performance is good politics. Let us not stop serving our clients until we give all our best,” he said.
Pamonag replied that PhilHealth already has its CCTV unit and will provide more as requested by the mayor. “11 years ago, I was also standing here to witness the opening of this office. That was when we started the operation with only 11 personnel. After 11 years, here we are again, expanding, growing, increasing, escalating for our clients’ convenience, and it’s all because of love. We love our clients, we love our work. We love our county and we love to serve. Let us welcome the new year with gladness. It took PhilHealth 20 years to be like this. It will take another 20 years before we leave a legacy. Other than empowering ourselves, the best that we can leave is the legacy of NHIP,” she said.
Newly-appointed Field Operations Division Chief, Eugene C. Donatos drew his message from the homily given by Fr. Carlito R. Garcia. “Israel in Hebrew starts with the smallest alphabet and ends with the biggest. We are taking a journey. We started 11 years ago and we started small. We hope to grow bigger right now, right here. While we are still somewhere in between, let us take this journey one step at a time. I just encourage everyone to persevere and continue serving with a mindset that serves our clients first,” he said.
Former Officer-in-charge of the FOD, Lorelie G. Bonilla and other officers from the Regional also witnessed the blessing ceremony. (END)