• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Mayor Greg Gasataya said Aug. 18 that the 7,978 Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) cards that were not released by the previous administration are now being distributed through the barangays.
Gasataya clarified that while registered BacCHP beneficiaries can avail of the services even without a card, these cards should still have been distributed since the city is spending P120 in the printing of each card. “Indi ni libre, nga wala gasto ang siyudad. Nga-a wala na distribute sa pumuluyo beforehand? They were not efficient.”
Atty. Marty Go, secretary to the mayor and BacCHP focal person, said that per the explanation of Engr. Mae Cuaycong, who was the previous focal person, the card distribution was stopped due to the election ban, among other reasons.
Gasataya said the distribution of these cards will now be through the barangays. “Based on the latest info, na distribute na ang tanan nga BacCHP cards sa numbered barangays, ang ongoing ang sa big barangays.”
Of these cards, 637 are for beneficiaries in Barangay Estefania, 592 in Taculing, and 543 in Villamonte.
Go said there are 144,691 total BacCHP beneficiaries.
The city government earmarked P137,655,000 for BacCHP this year, he added.
This flagship health program of the Benitez administration officially started in May 2023, and partnered with Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital, South Bacolod General Hospital, Riverside Medical Center Inc., Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, The Doctors’ Hospital, and Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center, to ensure that no Bacolodnon would be denied hospital care.
A BacCHP cardholder will not be required to pay a deposit or down payment upon admission, and the city government provides each beneficiary up to P15,000 to cover his or her hospital bills, and that of the dependents. | CGC
