"Camiguin Isle be there" launched to attract more tourists
Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo said that "Camiguin Isle be There" campaign invites tourists to look forward to what the province has to offer, most especially their trademark tourism.
Romualdo further said that aiming for cashless transaction and the online payment will through the GCash, Paymaya and other available and easier online payment.
Right now the tourist arrivals keep on increasing and a very good sign for tourists to flock this coming Holy Week season.
(Photos by Steph Berganio)
Local tourism holds bright prospects for job-seekers in Northern Mindanao
USTP Intern
This was stressed at a press conference held on Feb. 28, at Mallberry Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
Eastern Communications, partners, kickstart 2023 expansion by linking 13 more areas thru fiber-laying project PDSCN
Premier telecommunications and ICT solutions provider Eastern Communications, along with its partners, kickstarts the year with the deployment of a new cable-laying ship “Subaru” that will complete the ongoing joint undersea cable project, the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN).
With the first 15 submarine cable segments have been installed as of December 2022, the continuation of the PDSCN project will link the remaining sites in Calatrava, Romblon; Pasacao, Camarines Sur; Bulan, Sorsogon; Palanas, Masbate; Calbayog, Samar; Mactan, Cebu; Maasin, Leyte; Claver, Surigao del Norte; Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental; Camiguin; Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte; Liloy and Dipolog in Zamboanga del Sur;
To kickstart another year and mark the installation of the next nine (9) segments, Eastern Communications and its partners, Globe and InfiniVAN Inc., and its cable-laying services provider, NTT WE Marine (NTTWEM), recently sent off cable ship CS SUBARU at Subic Bay.
NTTWEM General Manager Shinichi Ezaka, Senior Manager Keitaroh Kimoto, and Senior Commercial Manager Steve Alburo, along with other representatives, presented cutting-edge specifications of cable-laying ship Subaru, which will continue to land the remaining cables around the country and is expected to be completed by April 2023.
With the goal of providing better mobile and broadband connectivity through fiberization across the country, the PDSCN parties’ $150-million project supports the goal of the current national administration to convert the Philippines into a more technologically driven nation through innovation, e-governance, and increased digital adoption among Filipinos.
The initiative is aligned with Eastern Communications’ campaign “Evolve Every Day,” which encourages Filipinos and local businesses to reach greater heights this year and pursue digitalization to face tomorrow’s challenges.
“Upon the completion of PDSCN, we aim to see more Filipino families and businesses better connected this year. Once the fiber cables are operational, we can expect more resilient and reliable connectivity to serve the needs of the whole country,” said Eastern Communications PDSCN Consultant Albert Tuason.
By building a fiber-powered Philippines, PDSCN seeks to provide connectivity which is essential to the country's economic recovery and growth. This year, it aims to reinforce strong and resilient connectivity during disasters, support the growth of various enterprises, assist residents with their day-to-day connectivity needs, and democratize robust and quality fiber internet for all Filipinos. (PR)
[From L-R:] Ship Agent Pete Faytaren of V.
Faytaren Shipping Agency, Eastern Communications (EC) Head of Network Planning,
Engineering and Implementation (NPEI) Division Delfin Lopez, NTT WE Marine
(NTTWEM) General Manager Shinichi Ezaka and Senior Commercial Manager Steve
Alburo, EC Outside Plant Director-NPEI Felipe Paez, NTTWEM Senior Manager
Keitaroh Kimoto, EC PDSCN Consultant Albert Tuason, and Fleet Marine Cable
Solutions Inc. (FMCS) Managing Director Diosdado Cabotaje in front of the
Subaru cable ship in Subic Bay, Zambales.
Withdraw ships from West Philippine Sea to show good faith in talks offer
House approves bill protecting online consumers, merchants
Senior citizens can count on their health insurance benefits all the time, PhilHealth assures
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has assured the country’s elderly citizens of its continuing commitment to their health and well-being by ensuring adequate financial protection when availing of inpatient care and primary care benefits in accredited facilities nationwide.
The assurance was made as the country wraps up its observance for the Filipino elderly this October, which kicked off with activities that include the signing of a partnership agreement with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on the sharing of information and statistical data on membership and health status of senior citizens in the country.
The said agreement aims to help the two agencies maintain an accurate database system in aid of expanding benefit packages and improving services for senior citizens, and in minimizing if not totally eradicating fraud brought about by inaccurate member records.
As of June 2022, PhilHealth has registered some 13.8 million elderly members and their dependents under its Lifetime Program and Senior Citizens Program, representing 14 percent of the program’s total registered beneficiaries nationwide. Lifetime members include retirees and pensioners who have reached the age of retirement and have paid at least 120 months
of contributions to the program. Meanwhile, Senior Citizen members are those who do not belong to any of the membership categories and whose contributions are paid for by the National Government pursuant to Republic Act 10645.
Elderly members can immediately avail of benefits for inpatient care and select outpatient procedures, Z Benefit Packages, and other benefit packages being developed by PhilHealth. For the first half of 2022, a total of P19.1 billion have already been paid by the state insurer for benefit claims of elderly patients under the Lifetime and Senior Citizens Program.
Senior members are also a priority to the Agency’s expanded primary care benefit package dubbed as Konsulta or Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama Package which can be availed of from accredited Konsulta providers of their choice.
The Konsulta Package aims to help members prevent or detect diseases early on. The accredited Konsulta providers shall act as the initial and continuing contact for the patients in the healthcare delivery system. The package includes targeted health risk screening and assessment; initial and follow up consultations; and laboratory tests and medicines, the availment of which will be subject to the recommendation of their primary care provider.
Laboratory and diagnostic tests include complete blood count with platelet count, urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fecal occult blood, Pap smear, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, oral glucose tolerance test, electrocardiogram, creatinine and HbA1c. Meanwhile, medicines that will be made available include anti-microbial, anti-asthma, antipyretics, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-diabetic, and anti-hypertensive medicines, including fluids and electrolytes, anti-thrombotic, and anti-histamines. (PR)
#Hawid-laum: Did socmed radio trigger Oro's suicide cluster in September?
By Lina Sagaral Reyes
Last of two parts
Cagayan de Oro – As the world marked the annual Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day on September 10 this year, a series of suicide incidents swept across Cagayan de Oro.
By the end of the month, the wave of eight cases within nine days - - from the September 10-18 - - catapulted the year's total to 23. This number of cases has surpassed 2021's tally of 19 suicide incidents, with still three months to go before the year would end.
But as quickly as the wave rose, during most of the month's second half - - between September 19 and 30 - - there were only two cases.
What caused the sudden spike and the equally sudden decline?
Maria Dolores Mercado, mental health program coordinator at the Department of Health-Region10 non-communicable diseases cluster, says exposure to exaggerated live broadcast coverage that extends from traditional to social media, could be a major factor.
In different forums in recent months, Dolores, a psychiatric nurse and college instructor in psychiatric nursing, had always called out the local broadcast media for its sensationalised coverage of these events as this, according to her, could result in more "copycat" suicide cases in the city.
"This is called the Werther phenomenon," she said, quoting the latest Department of Health administrative order that sets guidelines for the ethical and responsible reporting and portrayal of suicide in mass media and the cultural arts.
She discussed this at a forum among journalists and in an online public service program at Oro Broadcast Services on October 8.
The Werther effect, first mentioned in 1982 by David Phillips, references Werther, the protagonist in Goethe's novel, The Sorrows of the Young Werther", who killed himself because of unrequited love.
In 1774,when it was first published, many young men, who has read this epistolary novel, killed themselves.
Many studies suggest that "media reports about people who have died by suicide can influence vulnerable people as is associated with higher rates of suicide," according to the Canadian Association of Psychiatrists, in its 2018 re-issue of a policy paper on suicide reporting guidelines.
Mercado revealed, without citing figures, that in Northern Mindanao, suicide cases had gone down this year but had gone up in Cagayan de Oro. "Adtong 2020,medyo misaka ang atong mga kaso (Northern Mindanao). Sa 2021,misaka pa gyud. Niubos na siya karong 2022. Pero half of the year pa man ang datos nga nag-abot." (The suicide cases went up in 2020. It went higher in 2021. The cases went down in this year but the data we have comprise only those in the first half of the year. ")
Region 10 is comprised of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Camiguin.
But she further pointed out that suicide rates in the city had been always high, correlating it to the sensationalised, on-the-spot coverages of suicide crises.
"Pero daghan gyud cases diri sa Cagayan de Oro. Mao siguro kay diri ra man gud nga sensationalised kaayo ang pag balita." (The suicide rates had always been high in Cagayan de Oro. It is probably due to the sensationalised reporting. ")
She recalled how at one time, she heard the news as she was riding a taxi.
"Diha gyud time nga nagsakay kog taxi nga gusto na nako ignan ang driver nga adtoan nato na. Kay sobra ka sensationalised ug ka detalye."
More than 50 studies worldwide indicate that several factors could aggravate the Wether impact, including the duration, amount, and prominence of coverage. Also considered are the detailed description of the method used, dramatic images, and repetitive/extensive coverage.
Socmed
If traditional radio accessed through transistor radio
Papageno phenomenon
If radio stations, with traditional and digital platforms, are a factor behind the surge in suicides, did they also contribute to the decline in cases after September 18th?
On September 18th, at around 8 p. m, a young man was seen at the edge of a protruded concrete platform holding the deck at Ysalina Bridge across the Cagayan de Oro River.
(Photo screencaptured from Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro FB Page)
A staff of a food delivery service company stopped by, climbed down to the platform, placed his arms over his shoulders, and talked to the young man in those crucial minutes.
Relatives of the young man as well as a rescue team from Barangay Carmen came by later.
"I saw him from afar as I was crossing over the bridge on my way to deliver a basket of chicken to a hospital staff. I also saw a woman trying to get the attention of the young man, raising both hands but the man would not turn around and instead was just at the edge, looking down on the river," Ace Tristan Dy of Grab Food Delivery, said.
We were strangers to each other but somehow we understood each other,Dy reflected.
He said he had no training in rescuing people but his mother had often told him that he had the gift of persuasive speech. He attributed his calmness and intuitive skills to Buddhism, which is a long-time family practice.
In a few minutes, the young man agreed to go with his relatives.
Aside from traditional media coverage, the Facebook pages of at least 5 radio stations shared these moments of rescue captured by the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Carmen.
From September 18, there were but just a single report of an attempted suicide till the first week of the next month.
The decline could be what is called the Papageno effect.
Since a seminal study by Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, evidence is growing that media can play a positive role in suicide prevention by showing that there are alternatives to suicide.
The phenomenon is named after Papageno, the character in the opera Magic Flute, who lost his love and contemplated suicide but was convinced by three boys to choose to live anew.
The station DXCC of the Radio Mindanao Network, among those which shared the story in its traditional broadcast as well as in its Facebook page, has, a policy to cover suicide responsibly, thus it covered the rescue extensively.Other radio stations like Magnum Radio, DXKO and Bombo Radyo and iFM Idol Radio also shared the posts.
Annaliza Amontos Reyes, program director at DXCC, said that their reporters are always reminded to follow the code of ethics of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) , of which the station is a member.
The KBP has a code of ethics which provides guidelines in how to report crises situations,among others. But it still does not have particulate guidelines in covering suicide.
When a suicide occurs and coverage is deemed necessary, Amontos-Reyes said that they (reporters) emphasize suicide prevention.
"We interview a psychologist so our listeners are educated what to do when faced with similar situations. And how we can help those who are suicidal."
As for sensationalised coverages as part of the strategy to beat others in the ratings game, she admonished a do-no-harm policy as more important.
" Bisan pa makataas sa ratings pero makadaot sa kadaghanan, dapat I-minimize. "
" Dili kay mas daghan pang komentaryo balhin sa nahitabo o sa pamilya kay sa pag-educate.
Focus ta sa pag educate. Unsaon nato malikayan ang suicide, unsaon nato pag tabang sa mga suicidal. Mas kinahanglan nato ang pag educate. "
4ID commander: Collapse of NPA in Northern Mindanao, Caraga looming
NPA leader, 5 others yield to Army in Agusan del Sur
Photo by 4ID
Rodriguez: More funds for CHED needed to aid college students
DAR Sec distributes 654 land ownership awards, other programs and services under new Admin underway
"Ako'y napag-utusan ng ating mahal na pangulo at sinasabi niya, Secretary Conrad puntahan mo sila. You will assure them that we will provide them with all the support services necessary for their life better at yon ang tinatawag nating expanded support services, "he said.
(photos by steph berganio)
Rodriguez to give cash allowance for successful PMMA applicants from Cagayan de Oro
Supplied Artcard
DA-10 honors Young Farmers Challenge Fund provincial winners
DA-10 pays tribute to the youth in the region engaged in agri-fishery enterprises with profitability potential during the YFCF Provincial Awarding. (Supplied Photo)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Some 41 individuals and 10 groups across Northern Mindanao were recognized during the Young Farmers Challenge Fund (YFCF) Provincial Awarding on August 31, 2022, held here in this city.
Organized by the Department of Agriculture - Northern Mindanao (DA-10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the event honored the youth in the region engaged in agri-fishery enterprises with profitability potential, with DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga taking the lead, in the presence of Raul Alamban representing Senator Imee Marcos.
In his remarks, Larry E. Paraluman, AMAD chief of DA-10 said, “This year’s challenge is the second year of undertaking as we continue to entice our youth to participate in the challenge [YFCF]. Challenge, in the sense, that you [winners] will become the incoming and future entrepreneurs in the agriculture.”
The agribiz chief added that the YFC program is stemmed from the fact that the average age of Filipino farmers [as of 2018] is 57 years old and majority of the youth are no longer interested in agriculture.
To address such, Paraluman remarked that the [YFCF] ushers our youth [the awardees] who has interest in agriculture to have a start-up capital in the form of a competitive financial grant assistance from DA, wherein P50K is accorded to an individually managed enterprise or P100K for a group-managed enterprise at the provincial competition level.
Of which, interested and eligible youth ages 18 to 30 years old, have submitted their business model canvasses, activity and financial plans, and other documentary requirements, and were evaluated by a panel of judges based on their entrepreneurial attributes, innovativeness and potential for generating revenue stream of their presented business proposal, value addition, and social responsibility.
On top of the access of start-up capital, DA-10 RTD Madriaga assured the youth that the department will continue to pool resources and opportunities that would enable them to engage in agri-fishery enterprises on a sustained basis by providing agri-fishery business development services to further strengthen their agri-entrepreneurship capabilities.
“This is just the beginning of your journey in your agripreneurship. If you do well in your chosen agri-fishery enterprises, more government support awaits. Show us!” the DA official expressed.
Through the YFC program, DA is also set in extending business development services assistance, which includes training programs and assistance in business and product registration and certification, mentoring assistance, market linking and business networking, and monitoring and enterprise assessment.
DA-Agricultural Training Institute shall be tapped for the conduct of training activities, while DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council shall handle the additional capital requirements of the youth for scaling up their ventures.
Rendering her message to the youth in attendance via a short video clip, DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Y. Evangelista conveyed her gratitude for all the people [DA-AMAD, local government units, private sector representatives, and the academe] behind the selection of the YFCF winners at the same time congratulated the new batch of awardees.
“DA believes in investing in the youth, investing in farming, investing in the future. Nasa kamay ng kabataan ang kinabukasan ng agikultura,” the agri official concluded.
Out from the pool of provincial awardees, they will continue to vie for the seven spots as regional awardees: four enterprise awardees for the agri-fishery production category and one awardee per each of the categories – processing, digital agriculture, and supply chain business solutions, and will be granted with P150K per awardee, while P300K is at stake once declared as one of the 12 national awardees. (PR)
Below is a complete list of the YFCF provincial awardees with their corresponding agri-enterprises by province:
Bukidnon
1. Sherwin G. Sintaon – Win’z Native Chili Oil;
2. Johnny Rey G. Salinana – Suka Bahalinana Coconut Vinegar Production;
3. Maechel B. Daug, Von L. Andaleon and Vanessa C. Maquiso – VVM’s House of Mushroom;
4. Zyra Shine D. Gamino – Rabbit Production;
5. Shane A. Bañados – Bañados Tablea;
6. Joselito P. Llesis – Adlai Enterprise;
7. Rinalyn L. Tahil – Riyal Mushroom House;
8. Christian John C. Fernandez – Tilapia Para sa Masa;
9. Twinkle T. Antasoda – Antasoda’s Cassava Special;
10. Nikki Jace B. Mondia – Ganddz Freshwater Fish Farm;
11. Erwin M. Dahao – Spice Farm;
12. Judy Ann P. Egay – Adlai Rice Production;
13. Rey Mark U. Anggoy – Stable Adlai Production for Value Added Products (Grains/Grits);
14. Alvin G. Gutierrez – A-One Oyster Mushroom Production and Enterprise;
15. Xyrish Eve E. Fernandez – Fernera Organica;
16. Darwen D. Basarte – Basarte’s Fresh Tilapia and Homemade Tilanggit;
17. Ariel K. Benzon and Liezel E. Lllausas – Bantuan Ube Products;
18. Aiza A. Cabangbang and Angelou G. Daano – A & A Rabbitry;
19. Michael Ryan G. Gante – Pido Sayote Farm;
20. Ira Kristel M. Onahon – Bukidnon Diversified Vineyard;
21. Revie M. Limocon – Procaffeinated Coffee Processing;
22. Steve C. Cutillas – Gik’s Integrated Organic Mushroom and Aeroponics Production;
Misamis Occidental
1. Aljane Mary G. Udal – Am’s Sustainable Sunrice and Silver Production;
2. Romel B. Omega – Swine Fattening Production;
3. Vergil S. Capoy – Vergil’s Fresh Lettuce;
4. Ricardo B. Apale – Sweet Corn Production;
5. Ronald Harayo and Rhemar S. Bago – Bitter Gourd Production;
6. Johnley Fred U. Sumaylo and Kathyrine G. Gerona – Hankers Odorless Pig Farm;
7. Dave Q. Arabes – Zampanemazing Native Chicken Production;
8. Destre L. Dagumo – D’Garden Hydroleaf;
9. Jelie M. Misajon – Swine Backyard Production;
10. Arnie Marie M. Galorio – Galorio A’s Piggery;
11. Ednier Duhaylungsod, Maria Ella Mae B. Aguhob, Hazel Mae Helido and Mike Jasper Ramos – Free-Range Chicken Layer Production;
Misamis Oriental
1. Palcon Cres S. Padero – Backyard Swine Farming;
2. Jumil C. Lascuña – JL Integrated Farm;
3. Romejay A. Lagsic – Diversified Vegetable Production;
4. Sean Ivander L. Bade – Seanbad’s Farm;
5. Patrick P. Tomonglay – Pat’s Aquaponics;
Cagayan de Oro City
1. Ian King March P. Miyake – Production of Organic Concoction and Extracts;
2. Kathleen Claire G. Patimo, Ezekiel L. Gutay, Cyrill Ann A. Cabido and Dennis C. Baliguat – Greenovation;
3. Jay Ryan S. Rago and Shiena Marie H. Lagura – Hydrolicious Lettuce;
4. Stephine C. Pantilgan – SP Quality Rabbit Farm;
5. Rollie B. Bangcoyo – Chik ni Lie;
6. Jhongie M. Ladrada and Mars G. Muñoz – JM Production Quail Eggs;
Lanao del Norte
1. Mohammad Khalid R. Casan – Baloi Goat Farm;
2. Roselio S. Lahoylahoy – Tilapia and Vegetable Production;
3. Johavier M. Ayonan and Naifa R. Mutia – Free-Range Organic Native Chicken;
4. Nasip M. Batingolo – Palapa Ami;
5. John Vincent G. Cabrera – JVC Livestock Production;
Camiguin
1. Pamela Salon – Native Chicken Production;
2. Krysler John G. Agol – 7K Free Range Brown Egg
Rodriguez asks more patrol cars, communication equipment for Cocpo
Supplied ArtCard
CAGAYAN DE ORO SOLON OPPOSES PAGCOR PRIVATIZATION
“Pagcor is earning tens of billions of pesos a year for the government and for its numerous public service programs. I am strongly against privatizing it,” he said.
He said despite the pandemic, Pagcor earned P26.7 billion in the first half of this year, P32.6 billion last year and P30 billion in 2020 when the health crisis erupted.
While expressing opposition against the privatization of Pagcor, the Mindanao lawmaker said Pagcor cannot continue being a regulator and at the same a player in the gaming industry.
Rodriguez proposed the creation of a Casino Gaming Regulatory Authority so that Pagcor could continue to be a gaming-casino operator.
He suggested that agency officials talk to former Pampanga congressman Joseller “Yeng” Guiao and former mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba town in Pampanga, who have written letters to newspapers pleading for the government to put an end to e-sabong.
However, e-sabong is a lot worse because it drives people to debt and death, they said.
Pelayo and Guiao said farmers and poor people sell whatever they have due to their newfound addiction to e-sabong.
“Pagcor should see the evils its online cockfighting project has brought about. It doesn’t need e-sabong. It generates enough revenues for its programs,” the Cagayan de Oro lawmaker said. (PR)
Grabbed from Rufus Rodriguez Facebook
Electric Coops: Fix EPIRA, regulate power generation rate hikes
Illustration by PHILRECA
PhilHealth ensures financial risk protection for IP communities
True to its mandate to provide responsive health insurance coverage for all citizens of the Philippines, PhilHealth Regional Office 10 has recently forged a partnership with the seven (7) tribes of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the province of Bukidnon.
The partnership was highlighted by the “Pagdang-ul Panablay’’ rites, a solemn ceremony where IP leaders officially accept and welcome outsiders with good intentions into their community. As part of this cultural tradition and to show gratitude, the IP leaders ordained Regional Vice President Delio A. Aseron II and Local Health Insurance Office- Bukidnon Chief Romulo M. Lapuz Jr. as a bona fide Datus and were given lumad names: RVP Aseron as “Datu Salimbangon’’ which means an instrument connecting life; and Chief Lapuz as “Datu Kilala” recognizing his effort in bridging the seven tribal communities to the different programs of PhilHealth.
According to Datu Victorino “Migketay” Saway, one of the IP leaders, the partnership is a “big opportunity” for the lumad communities, noting that a lot of the lumads in the province are not aware of the various programs of PhilHealth and still rely on traditional methods in treating diseases instead of availing their readily available benefits, be preventive or curative medical intervention.
“Dako kaayo ni nga oportunidad sa amo nga mga lumad kay hangtud karon naa pa gyud mga igsoon namo nga wala pa nasayod kung unsa ang mga benepisyo gikan sa PhilHealth nga makatabang kaayo sa panahon nga naay ma-hospital. Sinugdanan pa lamang kini atong PhilHealth-tribal partnership (This is a big opportunity for us lumads because even now we still have members who do not know about PhilHealth and what are the benefits when we are hospitalized. This is only the beginning of the PhilHealth-Tribal partnership),” Datu Migketay said.
Under this newly forged partnership, PhilHealth, particularly LHIO-Bukidnon, commits to provide a priority lane for lumad clients, to conduct orientation in every municipality in Bukidnon.
RVP Aseron stressed that the main purpose of the partnership is to improve access to quality health care services in unserved and underserved communities and to ensure that lumad communities have an active participation in the implementation of the Universal Health Care.
Supplied Photo
EPR law takes effect, Rodriguez says
Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the principal authors of the law in Congress, said that Republic Act 11989 mandates companies to establish Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) programs in their recovery, recycling, cleanup, and transportation of plastic waste for disposal.
“With the EPR, Manufacturers must take note of the reusability, retrievability and recyclability of their plastic products. Hence, we are expecting that plastic wastes will be substantially reduced in due course of time,” Rodriguez stressed.
The new law also mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to develop a national framework on all types of waste to guide companies’ EPR programs.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, in Asia, the Philippines is the world's third-largest polluter with around 2.7 million metric tons of plastic trash generated each year, only next to Indonesia and China. (PR)
Courtesy: Rufus Rodriguez Facebook
PhilHealth expands coverage to144 sessions
In its PhilHealth Circular 2022- 0017 published today and takes effect immediately, PhilHealth members and their dependents with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD) who are registered in the PhilHealth Dialysis Database are allowed to avail of the maximum 144 hemodialysis sessions until December 31, 2022, provided that the dialysis sessions are prescribed by their attending physicians.
The state insurer also emphasized that the 91st to 144th sessions shall be exclusively used for outpatient dialysis only and any unused sessions will not be carried over to calendar year 2023.
Moreover, qualified CKD patients who already used their 91st to 144th dialysis sessions and were not able to avail of the automatic deductions of the benefits from their medical bills can still directly file their claims with any PhilHealth Regional/Branch Office or Local Health Insurance Offices per existing guidelines.
Also reiterated in the guidelines is the application of the No Balance Billing (NBB) Policy wherein no other fees or expenses shall be charged or be paid for by qualified patients above and beyond the packaged rates as per PhilHealth Circular No. 2017- 0017.
Further, in case of delay of filing of claims
due to natural calamities or other fortuitous
events, PhilHealth shall likewise extend the
filing period of claims from 60 to 120 days
provided that the area where the patient is
located or being treated is under a state of
calamity. (PR)
Philhealth-PRO-10 Facebook
Bill seeking to double monthly pension for senior citizens lapses into law
Rodriguez said the amount necessary for the initial implementation of the law will be charged to the current appropriations of the DSWD and its continued implementation in the coming years will be sourced out from the General Appropriations Act. PR
Courtesy: Rufus Rodriguez Facebook