CEBU City Councilor Dave Tumulak’s proposed ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Granting Medical and Burial Assistance to Covid-19 Victims” is up for second reading.
Under his proposal, coronavirus patients, including suspected and probable cases, may claim medical assistance at the Cebu City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (Champ).
The cash aid will vary depending on the patient’s health condition — P150,000 for patients with serious or critical condition, P100,000 for those with mild condition, and P50,000 for suspected and probable Covid-19 patients.
The City will shoulder medical expenses, including actual hospital expenses, laboratory and diagnostic fees and physician’s professional fees, net of applicable PhilHealth benefits, and other incidental expenses, provided official receipts are secured.
To avail themselves of this assistance, the public must present a medical abstract or physician’s diagnosis, hospital bills, official receipts and barangay certification of residency.
For burial or cremation assistance, the City will give P35,000 to the family of the deceased.
The family of the deceased may claim the assistance at the Cebu City Burial Office and present the birth certificate of the deceased; any valid identification card of the applicant; death certification from the doctor or other authorized medical practitioner, imam for Muslims, or tribal chieftain for indigenous people; funeral contract; barangay certification of residency; and official receipts of actual expenses related to funeral and burial of the deceased.
Beneficiaries or applicants who availed themselves of the burial assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Services and other burial assistance program of the government are not entitled to this provision.
Funds for the implementation of this program shall be charged against the City’s P1 billion second supplemental budget.
Under the provision of the draft ordinance, the City Health Department is directed to coordinate with involved offices and agencies to determine the authenticity of medical documents presented by the applicants.
If the council passes Tumulak’s proposal, the ordinance will take effect immediately upon its publication in a local newspaper of general circulation, and its posting on the bulletin board at the entrance of the City Hall and two other conspicuous places in the City Hall building. (JJL)