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| Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua turns over the PHP3 million check as medical trust fund to MMMH-MC chief Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on January 30, 2020. (Doms dela Cruz) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano and Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporters
CITY of batac—The city government here turned over on January 30,2020 a check for PHP3 million which is intended as medical trust fund to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) for indigent patients from this city in need of assistance when they are treated at the government hospital.
According to Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua, the city medical trust fund aims to provide immediate assistance to hospital bills, medicines and/or diagnostic procedures to less fortunate in-patient and out-patient residents of Batac.
“We will prioritize indigent or needy residents with hospital expenses which are not covered by the PhilHealth,” said Mr. Chua.
With a readily available amount, residents who may wish to avail of hospital assistance may visit the City Social Welfare and Development Office to know more of the mechanics of the program.
The mayor hopes that through the trust fund, it will serve its purpose of enhancing the social protection and health programs of the city.
In a simple program held at the Batac City Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, city government officials led by Mr. Chua handed the amount to Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, MMMH & MC medical center chief, following the signing of memorandum of agreement and data sharing agreement on the implementation of the medical assistance program.
For Batac residents like Rachel Corpuz, she said the program is a big relief to all people in need.
“I hope those who will benefit from it are really those who need it most,” said Ms. Corpuz citing there are some government programs that only benefits the chosen few.
The PHP3 million worth medical trust fund covers the whole year of 2020.
Mr. Chua elaborated that this is the first time the city government here funded a medical trust fund exclusively for “indigents, needy and less fortunate” who are from this city.
The two-term Batac mayor added the program is another manifestation that the city government of Batac “continuously commit and enhance its social protection and health programs to uplift the people’s quality of life”.