Cordova indigent folk given PhilHealth cards

Some 5,652 indigents families in Cordova town can now take advantage of various health benefits after the municipal government distributed free Philippine Health Insurance Corp. cards yesterday.

Mayor Arleigh Sitoy, whose State of the Municipality Address set yesterday has been moved to February 14, announced the distribution of the PhilHealth cards to the town's indigent residents.

Called "Medicare Para sa Masa," the health project is under the government's Greater Medicare Access (GMA) program. Sitoy said Senator Serge Osmeña donated P1.2 million to the program.

Cordova municipal welfare officer Josefina Montebon said that at least 30,000 indigent individuals could benefit the project, explaining that only those who are earning P10,000 annually are qualified to enroll the program.

Aside from the 5,652 indigent families, at least 300 others or 2,000 individuals will be given PhilHealth cards this year after Governor Gwendolyn Garcia committed to give financial assistance to the PhilHealth premium.

In 2004, Cordova enrolled 2,000 individuals to the PhilHealth program and the membership had expired last year. Under Proclamation 743 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 6, 2004, local government units were urged to enroll their indigent families as part of their responsibility in providing easy access to quality health care services.

The PhilHealth cards that were given yesterday will expire on July 31.