DAR launches health program in Agusan town

A farmers’ cooperative in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur is embarking a project no other group of farmers has so far dared to undertake – a social health insurance program for agrarian reform community (ARC) members.

Cesar D. Candari, chairman of the multi-purpose cooperative in Barangay Sayon, said they had asked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to help them put up the project in order to address the health needs of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and other residents of the barangay, which forms part of the Angas-Awao-Sayon ARC.

"Through our cooperative, we would like to provide basic health security to our ARB members primarily, and to other residents of the community," said Candari.

The health program, called "Agraryong Pangkalusugan," was launched recently by DAR in a ceremony attended by Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur’s lone district, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza, and Sta. Josefa Mayor Isosceles Otero.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza said that the DAR is pilot-testing the health program in Barangay Sayon with a view toward replicating it in other barangays and ARCs if it succeeds.

"The health of our ARBs is one of the needs being addressed by the DAR as part of its holistic development approach in implementing the comprehensive agrarian reform program (CARP)," Braganza said.

Earlier, the DAR had signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) to provide affordable health insurance coverage of ARBs nationwide.

She said the DAR put up the program because the farmers’ cooperative "had manifested its desire for a health program way back in 2000."

"There was no moneytary exposure on the part of DAR, only technical assistance. The cooperative members were encouraged to mobilize capital through savings and membership fees. The operation will be like insurance. The members pay a premium to the cooperative, and the cooperative subsidizes the cost of consultation or hospitalization. The cooperative will link with hospitals nearby where the members can go for consultation or treatment," Narisma said.

Membership fee is P50 per individual and P100 per family of five. Rate of premium, paid semi-annually, is still being fixed.

Narisma said the benefit package is good for one year. For principal members confined in a district hospital, the cooperative offers a maximum subsidy of P1,000 – P100 for room and board, P600 for medicines, P150 for laboratory, and P150 for doctor’s fee.

For outpatient principal members, the cooperative offers a maximum subsidy of P400 – P50 for consultation and P350 for medicines.