Gwen: Cebu No. 1 in economy, Philhealth free insurance

Cebu province is number one among other provinces in the country in terms of economic success and in providing free health insurance to indigents according to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia announced yesterday that in terms of assets, equity and cash in bank, Cebu is number one.

“This province, this proud province stands to be the number one province among the 81 provinces in the entire country. The province up to this time, remained debt-free, way utang,” the governor said.

Capitol says the economic success of the province is the result of positioning, serious, planning, an industrious population and local governments who understand the needs of business. Such success, the governor said, will continue and, to facilitate this growth, infrastructure projects are being implemented.

The governor also said that as of now Cebu is the number one in the country in terms of the number of enrollees in the Philhealth Insurance Program for indigents.

The province has now insured at least 100,000 indigent families or about 500,000 individuals through Philhealth’s indigent program.

Garcia said she plans to insure at least 200,000 indigent families in the province before the end of her term.

Capitol earlier ordered the different towns and component cities in the province to enroll the indigent families in their respective areas to the Philhealth program. As its counterpart, Capitol will shoulder the enrolment of an equivalent number of families enrolled by each town.

Since not all towns and component cities complied with the directive, the provincial government warned that it will no longer release medical assistance to towns and cities that have not complied with the orders of the Capitol.

The Philhealth insurance program is aimed at giving indigents easier access to the health service that they need. The program will also make district hospitals earn and give free services to indigents.  — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon