Bacolod boosts healthcare system with DOH, PhilHealth

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The local government here has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to upgrade its healthcare system for all the Bacolodnons.

Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, Dr. Mary Pauline Gestosani, chief of Regulations, Licensing, and Enforcement Division of DOH; and Edgar Yocariza, officer-in-charge of PhilHealth, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) yesterday, to officially launch its Universal Health Care (UHC) City Wide Health System.

The primary focus lies in strengthening primary care and community health, aiming to provide equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare for all.

In his statement, Benitez said that this development brings a much faster and easier experience, as he noted the transformative impact of the program on the community. “What we want, pag-abot sa health program ta fully covered tanan,” he said.

Benitez said that under the MOU, a special health fund (SHF) will be created designed to supposedly augment the resources of a local government unit (LGU) in meeting the programs of the DOH, especially the PhilHealth.

In 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, which enables all Filipinos to be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program and prescribes complementary reforms in the health system.

As Benitez assumed office here last year, the city launched a healthcare program for indigents through the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP), which aims to maximize government resources for the implementation of an adequate and responsive healthcare system.