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