All systems go for PhilHealth Run

To mark its 18th anniversary, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will hold simultaneous races in 18 major cities in the country on Feb. 17 with the theme “PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection.”

The Cebu leg will start at the Sumilon Road in Cebu Business Park.

The run will simultaneously start in Cebu, Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Laguna, Batangas, Legazpi, Ilo-ilo, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi and Butuan in 3-kilometer, 5k, 10k and 18k distances.

“This is our way of letting everyone know that we are encouraging all Filipinos to support our mission to provide access to quality health care through social health insurance,” said PhilHealth Region VII Vice President William Chavez during yesterday’s official launching at the Golden Peak Hotel.

With Chavez were race director Joel Baring of Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts (SAFE), lead coordinator of PhilHealth Region VII Nellie Marie Banzon and Gift Of Life project director Dr. Ibarra Panopio and Robin Ong.

The running event’s beneficiary will be the Gift of Life Project of the Rotary Club of Cebu District 3860 who’s mission is to raise funds for the less fortunate patients particularly children who are suffering from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) while the national beneficiary is the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Organizers are targeting 90,000 runners nationwide with the Cebu leg hoping to draw 6,000 racers.

To be able to hit their target number of racers, local organizers are planning to visit schools and universities to encourage students to join the run. Students will need to pay only P50 for the 3k division.

PhilHealth Run 2013 is part of the “Be PhilHealth Now” campaign of Phil Health which aims to generate more members.

The top three placers in the premier 18k division will take home P10,000, P6,000 and P4,000 respectively while the top three finishers in the 10k category will get P8,000, P4,000 and P3,000. The 5k winners on the other hand will receive P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000.

Regular registration fees are as follows: P250 for 3k; P300 for 5k; P350 for 10k and P450 for 18k. Registration opens on Nov. 17 at the PhilHealth Office in Gorordo Avenue, Ayala Active Zone, SM City Cebu, NERBAC and selected Cebu schools while distribution of singlets will be on January. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL