DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 20, 2008) – Thousands of mostly poor residents were given Philhealth cards in the southern Philippine city of Davao.
The health cards were distributed to some 5,000 people in Barangay 35-D recently, according to lawyer Karlo Nograles, son of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who was behind the program.
The younger Nograles said his father, a native of Davao City, has allocated five million pesos from of his Priority Development Assistance fund for the project.
“Since January this year, we have already released 3,000 of these Philhealth cards and will be releasing at least 2,000 more before the year ends,” Nograles said, adding, it was part of the Oplan Kalusugan program which began in 2004.
The health cards were distributed to some 5,000 people in Barangay 35-D recently, according to lawyer Karlo Nograles, son of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who was behind the program.
The younger Nograles said his father, a native of Davao City, has allocated five million pesos from of his Priority Development Assistance fund for the project.
“Since January this year, we have already released 3,000 of these Philhealth cards and will be releasing at least 2,000 more before the year ends,” Nograles said, adding, it was part of the Oplan Kalusugan program which began in 2004.
”The distribution of Philhealth cards was originally started by President Gloria Arroyo and continued by us to help the poor,” he said.
He said the Philhealth program is very beneficial since members and their beneficiaries receive substantial deductions in their hospital bills. “What is good about this card is the fact that the dependents and beneficiaries of the cardholder can also avail of the deductions in hospital bills and other benefits,” Nograles said.
Rep. Nograles has in the past also offered free medical assistance to local residents and provided medicines and dialysis treatments to the poor. (Romy Bwaga)
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