CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- To better provide efficient health care services to indigents in Pampanga, the Provincial Government has come out with a new scheme in the payment of Philhealth insurance.

In a meeting with about 200 barangay officials last Friday at the Benigno Aquino Hall here, Governor Eddie Panlilio said to effectively accommodate more number of beneficiaries, there should be at least a percentage sharing with the barangay and the beneficiary.

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In the past years, the Provincial Government has shouldered the full amount of P600 for the Philhealth premium of every beneficiary for each of the 307 barangays of the province per year.

According to Panlilio, they are proposing a 50-30-20 percent sharing of the cost.

"This would enable us to extend the services to more of our indigent constituents. Plus there is that sense of participation since barangay officials and the beneficiaries will chip in their own contribution," he said.

The Provincial Board (PB) has approved the appropriation of P10 million for the province's Philhealth program. In the said scheme, the Provincial Government would be able to provide for about 33,333 beneficiaries.

However, if the province would shoulder the full amount, only 16,666 indigent beneficiaries would benefit from the P10 million fund.

"The scheme serves as source multiplier for the Philhealth program for Pampanga. The fact that barangays would give in a portion of their budget to this program is already a big help," the governor explained.

However, village chiefs are divided on whether or not to support the said scheme.

Sasmuan Liga ng mga Barangay president Renato Banting said the proposal would be very burdensome for some barangays, particularly those with little internal revenue allotment.

"It would be very difficult for many barangays to follow such proposal. Aside from that, the mayors and the governor are not in good terms, most of the barangays would surely ask for the help of their mayors, we could not be assured that everything will work out well for this proposal," Banting said.

Some barangay leaders in Sasmuan, Bacolor, and Floridablanca said they would confer with their mayors on the planned scheme before giving out a definitive answer.

Banting said that Philhealth cards for indigents are very much necessary to meet the health needs of the poorest residents in the barangay.

Panlilio, on the other hand, is optimistic the plan would go without any hindrance. The barangay leaders and the governor are set to meet again on the said issue in the coming week.

(November 16, 2008 issue)
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