Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (center) after the signing of the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program agreement with Dr. Christine Marie Puey of the Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center, Cherry Pink Nonato of the South Bacolod General Hospital, city health insurance consultant Valerie Ann Hollero and Councilor Kalaw Puentevella.* Ronnie Baldonado photo
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signed a memorandum of agreement with two private hospitals for the implementation of the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program, which will primarily serve the needs of indigent patients, at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 15.
Dr. Christine Marie Puey was the signatory for the Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center and Cherry Pink Nonato for the South Bacolod General Hospital.
Benitez thanked the two brave private hospitals for supporting his administration’s flagship program to assist the underprivileged who do not have easy access to medical services.
Hopefully more private hospitals in the Bacolod will join the program, he said.
All six private hospitals were invited to join the BacCHP
Benitez said so far about 10,000 Bacolodnons have signed up for the BacCHP program. A prequalification process is being conducted for those who apply for BacCHP membership to make sure the poorest of the poor are prioritized and after that it will probably be expanded to other sectors, he said.
When BacCHP cardholders enter a hospital they will already be considered an indigents without the need to make deposits to be admitted, Benitez said.
The BacCHP’s basic foundation will be PhilHealth coverage, and if it is not enough the funds will be sourced from national government agencies and the city government, he added.
The city government has also opened up clinics in various parts of the city to attend to the health needs of Bacolodnons, including at the Bacolod City Government Center, Benitez said.
Benitez said the Bacolod City government is aiming to allocate P80M in its 2023 budget for the BacCHP.
Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health chairman, said the dream of Benitez and Team Asenso is now becoming a reality with the signing of the BacCHP agreement.
Puey and Uy thanked the mayor for giving them the opportunity to be part of the BacCHP.
“We are one with the mayor in making health care available to all Bacoleños without discrimination for the underprivileged,” Puey said.
Uy assured that South Bacolod General Hospital will continue to support the programs of the city government.*