Davao City – The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines have recognized PhilHealth Regional Office (PRO) XI as the most friendly government agency for senior citizens, on October 15 at SM City Davao.
The award was conferred to PhilHealth during OSCA’s 25th year Anniversary and Senior Citizen’s Month Celebration, alongside other private agencies who were recognized as the best establishments tending to the elderly.
According to Luis Moran of OSCA, PRO XI has been ‘quick’ and persistent in servicing the senior citizens. In fact, among 37 equally-competent government agencies surveyed in Mindanao, PRO XI has topped the list – a remarkable and pivotal feat for the entire corporation.
For Dr. Eduardo Gonzalez, Officer-in-Charge of PRO XI, this citation is both proof and product of the quality service and dedication of PRO XI’s employees for its clients, especially for the aged, over the years.
It can be remembered that PhilHealth, alongside the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has successfully hosted the Walk for Life (WFL) activity which commenced the Elderly Filipino Week celebration last October 1.
The WFL has become an annual celebration dedicated to pay tribute to the many achievements and contributions of senior citizens in the community.
This also comes after Republic Act 10645 had been passed, mandating health coverage for senior citizens in the entire country, through subsidy from excise tax imposed on alcohol and tobacco products, otherwise known as the SIN Tax Law.
Since the law effected, many senior citizens, especially those who were not previously covered by PhilHealth were enrolled to the program and given convenient access to health care benefits in hospitals.
PRO XI has also forged alliances with the city government through OSCA and various senior citizen federation and chapter presidents to further empower senior citizens with their PhilHealth membership.
With this alliance, PRO XI hosts an annual consultative meeting to gather and discuss prevailing issues that senior citizens face, especially when it comes to their actual experiences in benefits availment.
Aside from granting priority and special lanes for senior citize ns as required by law, the agency also has a team exclusively dedicated for its Senior Citizen and Lifetime Programs, providing them with an even easier access to all PhilHealth services.
A Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) which aims to institute senior citizen advocates for PhilHealth, is also in the pipeline and is set to be steered in the region sometime next year./Kleah Gayle Guevara-PRO XI
