BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano announced that he will add P8 million to the funds for the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP), introduced by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, for use this year.
The BacCHP has initial target of 10,000 beneficiaries, with the poorest of the poor given priority by the city government of Bacolod.
Paduano said he was informed by Malasakit partylist Rep. Anthony Golez that he will also give P2 million to the BacCHP.
During the signing of memorandum of agreement between the city government and two Bacolod private hospitals – South Bacolod General Hospital and Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center – who will cater to BacCHP card holders, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez disclosed that the health program will cover an array of health services that every Bacoleño may avail in times of emergency or health distress.
It will also lessen the worry of every family over being denied admission to a health institution should they fail to offer an initial payment.
Card holders will have easy access to hospitalization since the hospital will no longer require them to pay a down payment or admission fee, Benitez said.
BacCHP is a similar program to NOCHP (Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program) implemented by Benitez in the 3rd district of Negros Occidental while he was its congressman, from 2010 to 2019
Paduano, who attended the recent opening of 36th Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati, said that he will also extend an additional fund of P10 million for BacCHP, from his Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), next year.
This is on top of P8 million he will give, which is for use until the end of December this year, he added.*
