THE Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Carcar City emerged as the lone recipient of the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center-Seal of Excellence Award in Central Visayas after the two-phase survey and validation done by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, 13 of 65 government frontline offices in Central Visayas surveyed by the CSC received an excellent rating on their Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Report Card. Six (6) of these are LHIOs of PhilHealth in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Danao, Carcar, Dumaguete, and Tagbilaran.

The Seal of Excellence is a distinction given to government frontline offices with excellent ratings on their ARTA Report Card and without a valid and unresolved ARTA-related complaint. While frontline offices with excellent ratings on their ARTA Report Card qualify for the award, only those that pass cross-validation during the second phase of the survey will be conferred with the Seal of Excellence. The CSC Central and Regional Offices do the cross-validation using a Mystery Client Report Scoring System.

Despite limited manpower and an increasing number of transacting clients, PhilHealth LHIO Carcar proved to be a cut above the rest, demonstrating exemplary frontline services. According to Junard Abalos, a PhilHealth LHIO Carcar employee for more than a decade, maintaining this brand of service motivates him and his colleagues.

“The Seal of Excellence is a validation of our commitment to give nothing but quality service to our clientele,” expresses Abalos. “We owe this to the public that we serve.”

The LHIO, which opened in September 2002 with just four personnel, caters to the 19 municipalities of Southern Cebu. It now has nine (9) personnel committed to providing quality service to clients.

“To serve clients in the most efficient way, and always with a smile,” affirms Frances Mae Evangelista, PhilHealth LHIO Carcar’s Chief Social Insurance Officer. The award, she said, will always be a reminder and an inspiration for them.

Evangelista also expressed appreciation for the hard work of PhilHealth LHIO Carcar personnel and the support given to them by the regional office. (Dina Marie P. Cinchez)

(Reference: Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, Head Executive Assistant and Concurrent OIC-Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group, Tel. 0917-8089399)