By Ercel Maandig (PNA)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Social Services get the largest chunk in next year’s PHP6.5 billion-budget enacted by the City Council on Wednesday.
Social services amounted to PHP2.1 billion, accounting for 33.1 percent of the total budget.
During Thursday’s launch of the Paralympic Games, Mayor Oscar Moreno affirmed the city’s focus on social services.
“We are seeing now a transformation of Social Welfare, towards the new direction, focused on social service,” Moreno said, adding that social services are the primary reason why the government exists.
Expenditure items under social services are health, nutrition, and hospital services, with an allocation of PHP1.16 billion; and social security, social services and welfare, PHP989.5 million.
Vice Mayor Reinier Joaquin Uy said the social services allocation includes the PhilHealth Indigency Program, which has a budget of PHP180 million for 75,000 beneficiaries; and the Point of Care (POC) program for indigent hospital patients amounting to PHP30 million.
Under the POC, a program of the Department of Health, a patient simply needs to pass the medical social worker’s assessment to become a sponsored member, with the hospital shouldering the annual premium contribution of PHP2,400 to PhilHealth.
