4,120 residents receive PhilHealth cards

ANGELES CITY -- A total of 4,120 indigent residents here recently received PhilHealth cards from the City Government and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Phic).

“Our beneficiaries were identified by the National Government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR),” PHIC branch manager Arsenia Torres said.

Torres said Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting led the card distribution at the Marquee Mall Activity Center.

“This health insurance card covers social protection in terms of health care. As such, it will be very useful for these individuals in times of sickness,” Torres said.

She added that the local government also plays an integral role in assuring that each member of the community is enrolled in the program.

Mayor Pamintuan announced the City Government alone has more than 20,000 enrollees under the health insurance program of PhilHealth.

“In behalf of the people of Angeles, we are extending our gratitude to the management of PHIC, more so, to the National Government led by President Benigno Aquino III for providing health care opportunity reachable to everyone,” Pamintuan added.

Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2012, the National Government has allotted P12.5 billion to ensure the health needs of every Filipino.

The local government of Angeles was able to expand its PhilHealth card coverage from 3,700 in 2010 to 27,200, she said.

The transportation sector, market vendors, government employees, women’s groups, and former barangay officials were given individual health insurance cards in compliance to the Republic Act 7875 instituting the National Health Insurance Program for all Filipinos. (Reynaldo G. Navales)