Leon D. Hernandez Memorial Hospital, a PhilHealth-acctedited tertiary hospital in Daet, Camarines Norte, recently sponsored the PhilHealth membership of 500 less fortunate families in the province through the PhilHealth Sponsored Program. This is in line with its celebration of 10 years of worthwhile service. Now, the said indigent families will be able to enjoy their PhilHealth hospitalization and outpatient benefits anytime within the validity period of their IDs which lasts for one whole year.

        The PhilHealth IDs of these families were handed to them through a momentous ID Distribution Ceremony graced by top officials of the institution. Among them were Chairman of the Board Mr. William G. Hernandez, President Mrs. Rosemarie Hernandez, and representative of the Executive Team Mrs. Salome Peregrino. The event was also made more significant by the presence of Daet Mayor Tito S. Sarion.

        Among the highlights of the ID Distribution was the orientation on PhilHealth carried out by the Camarines Norte Service Office Staff and the brief message given by its Head, Chief Social Insurance Officer Ireneo A. Dacillo. The Camarines Norte Service Office aimed to inform the approximately 100 indigent families who attended the event, how to care for and put their IDs into good use.

        Leon Hernandez Hopital is another private entity that the Camarines Norte Service Office has tapped to sponsor the PhilHealth membership of poor families in the province of Camarines Norte. Previously, the Basud Development Cooperative has begun the sponsorship of 128 indigent families who are members of their Micro Finance program. Similarly, the Rural Bank of Paracale also initiated the PhilHealth enrollment of some 257 families.

        “At present, the Camarines Norte Service Office is continuously exerting its utmost efforts to be able to draw on mote, private sponsors who may enroll in PhilHealth some more 26,000 poor families in the province of Camarines Norte,” says Mr. Dacillo.

        Among other noteworthy actions of the said Service Office to boost services to clients and potential stakeholders are its ongoing mapping activity in the province to determine the number of remitting and non-remitting business establishments. Also it has begun roving around certain municipalities using a megaphone to catch residents’ attention and introduce PhilHealth to them alongside the vigorous distribution of PhilHealth flyers. As of this writing, it has also started hosting a PhilHealth radio program over local radio stations DZMD-AM and RADYO NATIN DZVC-AM (exclusively for residents of Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte and neighboring towns). On top of it all, PhilHealth Service Desks are established at least once a month in the far-flung towns of Capalonga, Paracale, Jose Panganiban and Sta. Elena. This is in line with their mission of bringing PhilHealth to their doors of people here find it hard and inaccessible to visit the Service Office in Daet.

        “We have also initiated collections in these areas to make paying contributions easier for our members and also as for them not to forget payment deadlines,” adds Mr. Dacillo.

        Here is fine example of how our Service Offices all over the region labor toward members and partners’ convenience and satisfaction when it comes to availing of the services of their “partner in health”.