Mothers line up for PhilHealth coverage

MOST of those who lined up yesterday to sign up for coverage in the PhilHealth Sabado program at the Zapatera Elementary School were mothers.

Some were  elderly  like 71-year-old Celsa Delator.

Lydia Barcelita, one of the registrants, said she was eyeing health coverage for her family of 12.

Two  of her children were diagnosed with pneumonia at the same time, she explained.

Since her husband had no stable job, the  family had to find ways to  pay for  medication.

“We were thankful that my husband’s friend took pity on us and lent us money, ” she told Cebu Daily News.

Barcelita said she hopes  that after registering with  PhilHealth, her family wouldn’t suffer this problem again.

The PhilHealth Sabado, Magseguro, Magparehistro program aims to provide  adequate and affordable social health insurance coverage.

“The objective is not only to enroll more Filipinos in  PhilHealth but more importantly to educate them on our health advocacies,”  said Janeth Advincula, PhilHealth public information officer

Lydia Leila Borinaga, a mother of seven, said she signed up for PhilHealth  to make sure her family gets  support for their hospital needs.

“It would  be very difficult if the kids were  admitted to the hospital and we had nothing to pay because my husband only does carpentry work,” she told Cebu Daily News./Correspondent Patricia Andrea Pateña