Mandaue set to improve medical services for veterans

CEBU, Philippines -  The Mandaue City government will soon sign an agreement with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) to cater to the hospitalization needs and medical care of the city’s veterans and their beneficiaries.

Under the draft agreement, the basic requirement is for hospitals to have a ward that can accommodate veterans and their beneficiaries.

Earlier, PVAO through its administrator, Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina, sent a letter to Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing regarding the revision of the Veterans Hospitalization Benefit for which the veteran’s office have partnered with PhilHealth to cover all World War II veterans.

The program entitles veterans and their dependents from P800 to P1,500 worth of hospitalization benefit per day for 45 days confinement in one year.

Mandaue City Assistant Legal Officer, Eliseo Ceniza Jr., said the program of PVAO will be beneficial and favorable since it will help the World War II veterans by upgrading health services.

Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, the council presiding officer, already referred the draft MOA to the Committee on Laws and Ordinances. The MOA will be executed and entered into by the Mandaue City Hospital, represented by the Mayor and the PVAO.

Through Republic Act 6948 as amended by Republic Act 7696, the PVAO is mandated to provide hospitalization, medical care and treatment to Filipino veterans and their dependents through the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and veteran wards in selected government hospitals nationwide.

Carolina said the government hospital in Mandaue passed the standards set by the PVAO in providing quality health services to the veterans and their dependents. (FREEMAN)