QC gov’t gives health coverage to contractual employees

The Quezon City government has started enrolling some 6,000 of its contractual employees with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) under its Serbisyong Bayan "Medicare Para sa Masa" health program.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. handed over Philhealth cards to the initial 500 employees in a simple ceremony held at the Quezon City Hall.

Three contractual employees – Rhodora Real, of the city library, Aileen Baylon, of the social services department, and Andro Cruz, of the city personnel department, received facsimile cards on behalf of the initial bath of beneficiaries.

Belmonte was assisted by Rodolfo Balog, Philhealth vice president for the National Capital Region in the distribution of cards.

The second batch of Philhealth cards will be distributed on Oct. 16. Belmonte said the medicare program is available to contractual employees who receive salaries P6,000 and below.

He said the enrollment of contractual employees in the medical insurance program is the city government’s way of helping low salaried employees, who are in the forefront of the city’s effort to return back to constituents the money they paid in the form of taxes.

"We are doing all these because you deserve the help and protection of the city government," he said.

Belmonte also lauded the contractual employees for being part of the challenges which the city had to face before achieving its current status.

"Let us move Quezon City forward," the mayor said. – Perseus Echeminada