TnT health card program terminated

The Tommy and Tony (TnT) health card program, which was the initiative of Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco, has been terminated after some unscrupulous individuals allegedly took advantage of the program.

Cuenco, who was at the 3rd General Assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils held at the Tambuli Beach Resort in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning, said he decided to cancel the health card in order to protect the good intentions of the program.

The Tommy and Tony health program gives beneficiaries free laboratory services, diagnostics and medicine in government hospitals.

But the purpose for the indigenous was forfeited.

"Daghang binuang ang TnT card, some of my staff akong gipang-kick out, kay ang ubang patient mo-presentar og dili tinuod nga mga resita unya uban kung naay resita ilang dungagan ang tambal," Cuenco said.

The program's allocation was taken from congressman's Priority Development Fund amounting to P4 million. But now, he said instead of through the health card, the program will now be coursed directly to Department of Social Welfare and Development who will check the receipt upon the endorsement of the barangay captain and from his office.

The new program of the Tommy and Tony health program will no longer accommodate out-patients but in-patients with its appropriation of P15,000 each indigent patients.

Government hospitals are relying on the health programs of different non-government organizations, people's organizations and congressman's allocation from their PDAF to cope with higher operating expenses and lesser funds. - Garry B. Lao/BRP