By Edwin Fernandez | Philippine News Agency
COTABATO CITY — To help ensure that the country’s universal health care program is enjoyed by Filipinos from all walks of life, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Region 12 opened Thursday its service desk in the coastal town of Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat province.
Aside from Kalamansig, the PhilHealth-12 service desk situated at Kalamansig Rural Health Unit station will also serve its clients from the neighboring coastal towns of Lebak, Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Palimbang, and even its members in South Upi, Datu Blah, and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao.
John Labina Amis, a member of the Manobo community in Kalamansig, was elated after learning PhilHealth services opened in their town.
“I am thankful that PhilHealth is getting closer. We are now spared from PHP750 transportation fare in going to Cotabato City just to go to the local health insurance office for our health transactions,” Amis said in vernacular during a local radio interview Thursday.
“It’s a big help. My child was admitted at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City for a month, I have not paid any single centavo. Thanks to the no balance billing policy,” Amis added.
Hanah Naanep, PhilHealth-12 information officer, said Manobos like Amis and other minorities in the area are one of the reasons why PhilHealth-12 has moved to set up its extension service in Kalamansig.
“Having 293,280 projected population with 147,420 registered members and dependents, at least 50 percent more from Kalamansig to Lebak, Palimbang, Sen. Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat could still possibly be enrolled through the new service desk office,” she said.
Naanep said those who are already registered with wrong entries in their identification documents and membership data records may come over to correct their membership status.
She added that residents from the adjacent towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Upi in Maguindanao may likewise transact their PhilHealth concerns in Kalamansig during weekly working days except on holidays.
For her part, PhilHealth-12 acting regional vice president Marjorie Cabrieto has assured to deliver in full the PhilHealth needs of residents in the area.
Region 12, also known as the Soccsksargen development hub, comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal, and General Santos City.
