STA. RITA, Pampanga – Some 800 elderlies were awarded their free PhilHealth membership during the Senior Citizens Congress held at this town’s Multipurpose Covered Court yesterday.
The event led by Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda and Mayor Yolanda Pineda, with assistance from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Pampanga, was held in accordance with Republic Act 10645 or the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage of All Senior Citizens.
Through the implementation of RA 10645, all senior citizens are qualified to receive free health insurance fully subsidized by the national government.
According to the PhilHealth representatives, those who wish to avail of the free health insurance for elderlies should present a fully accomplished membership data form, and senior citizen’s ID or birth certificate to their respective Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).
The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the national, provincial, and municipal government for the various programs intended for them.
“Malugud la talaga reng manungkulan tamu. Maragul yang saup ining PhilHealth ayni bang eda naku intindyan deng anak ku. Atin pang libreng checkup keng mata, talagang pasalamat ku keng binye da ngening aldong iti,” said Reigna Ocampo, one of the beneficiaries.
In the past year, the Capitol alloted more than half a million pesos for various programs for senior citizens including the provision of cash incentives for centenarians, financial and medical assistance, as well as burial assistance.
Governor Pineda also thanked PhilHealth Pampanga office led by Henry Almanon for their facilitation and prompt release of the elderlies’ PhilHealth documents.
The municipal government also led a free eye checkup for senior citizens during said event.
By Angelique DC. Tuazon
