Bulacan starts free PhilHealth card distribution

The Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando started distributing PhilHealth cards under the “Alaga Ka, Para sa Maayos na Buhay or ALAGA KA” program of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

 Early this morning, 2,000 Maloleños received free PhilHealth cards at the jam-packed Malolos Sports and Convention Center and 7,642 more from this city are scheduled to receive the said free health card.

 Prior to this, some 720 PhilHealth cards were given to residents from the province’s 21 towns and three cities during the kick-off of the Bulacan leg of the said project yesterday.

 The provincial chief executive said that a total of 204,818 Bulakenyos who were enrolled in the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) will receive the gift of health care from President Aquino.

 Alvarado and Fernando thanked President Aquino for providing health assistance to Bulakenyo households under his “ALAGA KA” healthcare program.

 The beneficiaries of PhilHealth were indigent Bulakenyo families who were surveyed and selected by the municipal government, some of them were members of 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) that are incapable to pay for the said insurance.

 Ms. Diana Lopez, chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth Malolos, stated that they had coordinated with the PGB, different municipalities and other LGUs concerned to get the names of the Bulakenyos that fit as beneficiaries of the healthcare program.

  “Una, galing sa Central office kung si nu-sino ‘yong bibigyan ng PhilHealth cards, nakipag-coordinate kami sa governor’s office and LGUs concerns like dito sa Malolos, kung sino ‘yong mga bibigyan. Layunin nitong programa ng Philhealth, ‘yong tulong sa bawat Pilipino  at miyembro sana ng Philhealth, nang hindi na nila iniintindi ‘yong mga gagastusin nila at the same time ‘yong mga recipient nito ay may libreng check-up sa RHU’s at covered ng NHTS,” explains Lopez.

 The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office also released the schedule of distribution of free PhilHealth cards wherein aside from the City of Malolos, they will distribute thousands of free health card on April 15 until May 6 to be held at the covered courts and gymnasiums of the 21 towns and three cities in Bulacan.

 The program dubbed as AlaGa Ka (Alamin at Gamitin) was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Health and LGUs that aims to inform the indigent families and other PhilHealth members about their privileges under the universal health care program and avail the services being offered to them.