• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

More than 1,800 farm workers are expected to benefit the Sickness Benefit Program of Angels’ Wings Foundation Inc. of Atty. Rowena “Weng” Lopez-Lizares, in support of the health programs of her husband and incumbent Mayor Neil Lizares, which was launched yesterday in Barangay Zone 12A in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
The program launch, which was attended by 88 farm managers in eight identified pilot barangays of Dos Hermanas, Concepcion, Efigenio Lizares, Matab-ang, Katilingban, San Fernando, Zone 12A and Zone 15, all in Talisay City, disclosed Lizares, who chairs the foundation.
The farm managers have been tapped to help the foundation in identifying the recipients in their respective haciendas.
Under the Sickness Benefit Program, the beneficiaries are Talisaynons, who are confined in either public or private hospitals. Each beneficiary will receive a financial assistance of P2,500 once every year, which is equivalent to five days of salaries in the hacienda.
Lando Linaha, one of the farm managers, who attended the launching, said farm workers are always seeking his help for transportation expenses and food, among others, if they, or members of their families, are hospitalized.
Through this program, it will help a lot of its beneficiaries.
The Angels’ Wings Foundation, which merged with the Hernan Lopez Foundation in 2016, has been serving the underprivileged residents of Talisay.
Atty. Lizares said the program will commence immediately, and beneficiaries will receive the financial assistance within 48 hours, as soon as they comply with the needed requirements.
The prototype program, if it is successful, will be expanded to other sectors, such as the transport and fisherfolks, among others, she added.
Mayor Lizares also announced the establishment of Super Health Centers in barangays of Matab-ang and Dos Hermanas in Talisay City, aside from the efforts of the city government to extend medical assistance to less privileged residents.*