July 25,2009

PhilHealth Aims To Provide Universal Coverage Of At Least 85% Of The 90M Filipinos
By 2010
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr,

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) or in

short PhilHealth with its current theme:”Kalusugan ng lahat,PhilHealth ang
katapat” has aimed to provide a universal coverage of at least 85% of the entire
90M Filipinos by the year 2010.
This was the disclosure of Dr. Elizabeth S. Fernandez, PhilHealth regional
office Vice-President during the 14th year anniversary celebration since it
establishment on Feb. 14, 1995 held recently at Supercha Restaurant here.
She admitted however that PhilHealth ‘s goal cannot be achieved without the
help of various stakeholders and sectors of society like the government agencies,
private companies, financial institutions,LGUs,professional institutional health
care providers, private sponsors, accredited collecting parners,the international
communities(for loans and grants providing technical assistance and capacity
modules to help strengthen human capital infrastructure), Congress for the
enactment of health laws for its members, and the local media.

National, Regional Achievements

Fernandez disclosed that in the national level PhilHealth has already covered
76% of the 90M population which translate in figures to 60M as of December
2008.She said that the employed sector has the highest level of coverage of
34%,18% private sector, 12% OFWs, 11% self-employed, and 1% non-paying members.
In the regional level, membership has reached 60%,which if translated into
figures is 4.2M.She claimed that in region 8(Leyte and Samar) an additional
membership of 2.5 M,which in percentage is 2.5% is all it needs to achieve the
level of a universal coverage by 2010.
PhilHealth has likewise released funds for the health benefit, she said, to
hospitalized members of P8.6M in 2006 and another P16.5M from January up to
November 2008.
The provinces that lead in PhilHealth membership are Biliran, Eastern Samar,
Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar.
On the other hand, Maasin branch office has achieved 65% of its target in
getting membership of 5,548 as of December 2008.It was also learned that there are
1,500 PhilHealth –accredited hospitals nationwide.

Various Strategies
The regional Vice-President further revealed that PhilHealth Universal Coverage
has outlined various strategies and approaches to achieve their goal of attaining
the 85% membership among the entire Filipino population. Some of these are the
following:1)Reach, Build and Achieve(self-explanatory);2)Express it from the
heart-putting up billboards in strategic locations bearing health
messages’3)Connect Thru Technology-text/online promotion messages;4)PhilHealth
Social Networking-entice every accredited sponsors in different
companies,institutions,etc to subsidize indigent memberhip;5)Increase Service
System-giving awards thru gifts/ certificates as a special present to indigent
birthday celebrants;6)Health Group Builders- organizing group formations to
gather/recruit at least 25 persons to become PhilHealth members reciprocated with
discounts in premium remittances as rewards;7)PhilHealth Working as a Team-(Self-
explanatory;8)Providing awards for the efficiency in submitting reports and
remittances for the office’s/company’s members.

Awarding Ceremony
Misael F. Paigan, PhilHealth Chief Maasin Service Office, informed that their
office is also giving framed certificates of appreciation/recognition to partner-
stakeholders who were prompt in submitting reports and remittances from their
respective members.
1)Best Employer: A)DENR-PENRO(NGA level)-Ranulfo Q. Arbiol,PENR Officer and his
colleagues Maggie and Perla;2)St.Bernard LGU(NGA level)-Mayor Rico C. Rentuza
represented by his secretary Liza Federacion;3)St. Joseph College(Private sector)-
Executive Vice-President Crispin D.Arong,Sr.represented by Mary Lou C.
Tiempo;4)National Statistics Office-Lourdes Orito Kionisala-most active friends of
PhilHealth volunteers;5)Hinunangan-LGU- Mayor Romeo M. Gomez(municipal level)-
achieving more than 100%(2,353 indigent individuals) PhilHealth membership of the
municipality’s indigent population;6)Provincial Level-Governor Damian G. Mercado
represented by Dodi Fernandez of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council
Office; 7) Special award-Land Bank Philippines Branch Manager Regorberto G. Mondoy

Positive Reactions
In his speech Mayor Gomez, a former RTC Judge here, confided that thru
PhilHealth he was able to have his 2 eyes operated on 2 times due to severe
blurriness. He divulged some of his friends and acquaintances were surprised to
see him no longer wearing his graded eyeglasses. He said he made a curt reply
saying ‘because of PhilHealth”.

In another occasion other group of familiar people was likewise astonished to

see him, he intimated, not wearing his usual graded eyeglasses anymore. He said he
made a short reply saying “because of the wonders of PhilHealth”.
He implied without PhilHealth he might still be suffering from a blurry vision
which prompted him to be always wearing graded eyeglasses until now.
The experience, it was learned, has inspired him to sponsor indigency program
for PhilHealth membership in his municipality’s constituents covering 2,353
indigent individuals by setting aside part of the LGU funds.
Another awardee-recipient Dodi Fernandez confessed that the indigency
sponsorship done by the provincial government thru the incumbent Governor was
inspired by their Bukidnon visit. He unfolded that Bukidnon has the best health
program with 3 tertiary hospitals catering to PhilHealth members.
He informed that health program is the number 7 in the provincial government’s
priority agenda. He said the first group of subsidized recipients for indigency
program was the Barangy Health Workers.
LB Manager Mondoy also expressed his appreciation of PhilHealth’s recognition
to the bank’s effort in collecting premiums among its members and thanked the
latter for making Land Bank their choice.
Moreover, the PhilHealth regional Vice-President admonished hospitalized
members to make things clear with their attending private physicians if they have
signed waivers. If indeed they did because they have already received fees for
their patients’services, then the benefit will go to them (the patients).And they
have the right to claim their respective benefits after hospitalization.
When asked why PhilHealth is selective in making reimbursements of prescribed
medicines from hospitalized members-patients, Dr. Fernandez explained that the
selective way of reimbursing the prescribed medicines for the patients is based on
the list of quality medicines provided by the Philippine National Drug. (Copyright
2009 by Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

JULY 25,2009

Motorcycle Driver Slides On Slippery Bridge

By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southen Leyte-A slightly drunk motorcycle driver has slid as he
passed on a slippery bridge in brgy. Canturing, this city, recently on his way
home to Macrohon, more than twenty kilometers away from here.
The victim was identified as Noel B. Tan, 33 years old, single, resident of
brgy. Laray,Macrohon.In an interview at the provincial hospital, he disclosed that
h e and his friend known only as Cherry Boy were having some liquor drinks in
brgy. Laboon, about 15 kilometers away from the city. He said he was only slightly
drunk and not heavily drunk because they have limited their order to a manageable
level.
At about 10:00p.m., he said, he brought his friend to his residence in brgy.
Batuan, more than 10 kilometers away from Maasin, passing the ‘Tulay ng Pangulo’”
in brgy. Canturing. On his way back to the city, bound for home, he narrated, he
decided to pass on the same bridge for a shorter route to save travel time.
As he passed the bridge, he said, he suddenly skidded and has forgotten what
happened next. When he regained his consciousness at dawn, he continued, he was
already at the hospital. The victim claimed several firemen who happened to pass
by in Canturing bridge were the ones who brought him to the hospital.
Tan sustained some injuries. A big wound has nearly hit his right eye now
looked partly red and some bruises below his face. His head however, with a slight
injury was spared from brain damaged. His right hand had swollen, but no fractured
bone. His right ear was cut and has entailed five stitches.

Many Victims
The bridge has reportedly victimized many motorcycle drivers including
multicabs since it was opened to the riding public about 2 years ago. It was
claimed that the victims were either drunks or teetotalers who were not familiar
with the bridge’s condition and were running in high speed.”Everytime the bridge
becomes slippery caused either by rain or moisture formations on the bridge steel
floorings”, a concerned citizen said, “it is not selective whom to victimize,
particularly if the driver is reckless and careless and is unfamiliar with the
true condition of the bridge”.
Police Traffic Officer Donato Cervantes revealed that there were only 4
reported incidents of slides in Canturing Bridge to his office. He explained that
those unreported accidents of slides might have no licenses to drive so that they
refrain from reporting it.
“If in some places of the country the “Tulay ng Pangulo” projects have the same
kind of steel flooring materials, then there’s a great possibility that there were
already numerous victims of slides in other provinces as well”, said another
source.
A motorist who is familiar with the bridge’s true condition said that the
warning sign “Bridge Slippery When Wet” must be placed 25 meters away from it and
not very near the bridge. “Putting the warning sign very near to the bridge would
not make any driver aware of its true condition. Because applying a break on a
speeding vehicle at the very entrance of the bridge would surely victimize the
driver for a sudden slide that may injure him/her seriously or break his/her
bones”, he said.
The motorist who does not want to be named also informed that the Canturing
Bridge would still become slippery even without rain. “The natural coolness of the
area during the night and on cold weather condition is a contributory factor
that’s responsible in the moisture formations on the bridge’s steel floorings
which causes the slippery of the bridge”.
He advised all the drivers of all vehicles in the city and those in neighboring
towns who want to pass by the Canturing bridge to be very careful with their speed
and must start slowing down at 25 meters away from it to avoid the abrupt slide
upon passing on it, most particularly on rainy days and during the night and early
mornings.
Moreover, majority of concerned citizens here have also suggested that the
materials used in the Canturing bridge and other “Tulay ng Pangulo” projects in
the country with steel plates floorings be replaced with rough concrete floorings
to eradicate, if not to avoid untimely deaths or serious injuries among the
victims of unexpected slides.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

July 25,2009
SSS Pensioner bludgeoned
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A retired worker of a box factory for soft drinks in
Butuan City, now an SSS pensioner who was living alone in his small house in sitio
Sumayod,brgy.Amparo,Macrohon was bludgeoned by a young attacker inside his
residence one evening at past 7:00p.m.(Sunday) recently..
The victim was identified as Ernesto Sescon, 66 years old, unmarried The
young suspect was identified as Carlon (not his real name), 13 years old, also a
residence of sitio Sumayod.
In an interview with the victim at the provincial hospital, he claimed his
young attacker was one of his friends in the neighborhood. He said he used to give
him occasionally something to eat or even gave some loose coins.
Before the attack at about 6:00p.m., he said, some of his young friends were
there at the store with video karaoke. There they were having some kind of
entertainment before he went to bed.
Not long after while he was lying on his bed, he claimed that a young boy
entered his house and started hitting him with a piece of wood on the upper parts
of his body.
He said the attacker also bit both his right and left arms several times as
manifested by some redness that looked like burns and wounds. He has some injuries
on his head and his eyes were reddish. There was a wound on his neck slashed by
the suspect with a broken mirror, he said. Luckily the slashing did not cut the
neck’s main veins seriously thus saving his delicate throat.
He said he frantically defended himself as his attacker continued to hit him
until he shouted for help and some neighbors rushed to his house.
The boy left quickly, he said, and allegedly ran away with his money amounting
to P1, 000.00.The suspect who hid somewhere in the vicinity by covering himself to
cancel his identity was latter caught by the apprehending Macrohon police
officers.
In an investigation, the young suspect told police that he has 2 other
companions when he entered at the victim’s house.However, the suspect’s statement
was denied by the victim himself. He claimed he was conscious during the attack
and that there was only one attacker and no other.
When asked about the stolen money at the victim’s residence, as the police
inspected his pocket, the suspect told police investigators that the P200 he has
in his pocket was lent from 2 of his friends in the nieghborhood.He denied
stealing the money of his victim.
After the investigation the suspect being an underage was turned over to the
DSWD office in Macrohon town for temporary custody.

Petition For Transfer

Meanwhile, the younger brother of the victim, Braullo Sescon, Jr., 60 years
old, married, said he has petitioned to the DSWD office for the transfer of the
suspect to Davao where the latter’s aunt was living with her family.
He explained he wanted the boy to be away from their place in sitio Sumayod to
avoid another incidence of violence and alleged thievery that the boy might commit
in the near future. He disclosed the boy has already committed 2 crimes in the
past but the recent incident was the worst.
He further explained the solution might involve his parents if the latter would
not allow their son to travel alone to Davao.”It would be better if the young
suspect and his parents would leave the place for the good and safety of their
son”, the younger Sescon said.
Moreover, he clarified that the petition is the only way that the young suspect
can avoid another trouble in the neighborhood which might endanger his life and
that of his parents. “Some of the neighbors now have started to hate him because
of what he did to my older brother”, he said.
Nevertheless, Braullo’s wife had told him at the hospital that upon the request
of the suspect’s parents, a DSWD staff wanted them instead to sign an affidavit
for an amicable settlement of the case.
But Braullo insistedly reiterated saying, “Our petition to let their son and
the whole family migrate to Davao is the only effective way to avoid another
trouble in our place with their problematic son”.
He pointed out he is not agreeable with the signing of the affidavit to settle
the case as proposed by a DSWD staff. The only option, he said, is to let the boy
and his parents migrate to Davao.
“If their petition to transfer the boy to Davao will not be materialized”, he
stressed, “he will be forced to include the suspect’s parents in his court
litigation”.(Quirico M. Gorpido,.Jr.)