7,978 BacCHP cards found undistributed in Bacolod

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 7,978 Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) cards intended for beneficiaries were found undistributed by the city government under Mayor Greg Gasataya.

The BacCHP, launched in 2022 as a flagship health initiative of former Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, has been continued under the current administration.

The program aims to provide free, quality health care to marginalized and underserved sectors of the city.

Each beneficiary is entitled to PHP15,000, which is deductible from hospital bills in both government and private hospitals.

In a press briefing Monday, Gasataya said the undistributed cards were discovered by Atty. Jose Marty Go, his secretary and focal person for the BacCHP program.

He added that 13 duplicate ID cards were also identified.

Gasataya said almost all barangays had undistributed cards, and he has ordered that they be turned over to the respective barangays for immediate distribution.

He also noted that some cards had printing errors.

He clarified that he initially believed beneficiary complaints were due to system glitches, but they later learned the issue was non-distribution of the cards.

Gasataya said the former focal person was asked to explain and claimed that distribution was suspended due to the election ban.

However, he argued that BacCHP, being a health service program, should not be covered by the ban.

Each card costs PHP120 and is funded by the city government.

Go reported that as of 2025, BacCHP has 144,691 registered beneficiaries with a total budget of PHP137,655,000.

The highest number of undistributed cards came from Barangay Estefania with 737, followed by Taculing with 592, Alijis with 488, and Vista Alegre with 395.