PhilHealth Catarman Service Center tops in regional collection target
By Ailene N. Diaz
Catarman, Northern Samar (27 October) -- The PhilHealth Catarman Service Center boasts of biggest collection among the Philhealth centers/units in Eastern Visayas.
According to Catarman Philhealth officer in-charge Romeo Agus, the Catarman Service Center has already already collected as much as P24,049,465.65 as of September 2006. This collected amount is now very near its goal of P25 million before the year ends.
Agus said that for the past several years the Catarman Service Center has been consistent in overshooting its target. It has also remained as a consistent regional topnocher not only in the collection of Philhealth contributions/insurance fees but also in the enrollment of Philhealth members from various sectors.
PhilHealth Catarman covers not only the 24 towns or the two districts of Northern Samar but also the first district of Samar province covering 10 municipalities including the City of Calbayog.
Long before the signing the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and PhilHealth at the regional level on October 17, 2006, the DILG Provincial Office and PhilHealth Catarman Service Center have already reached a 37% in terms of enrollment of barangay officials to the National Health Insurance Program. The barangay officials are considered as employed sector in the criteria of the said government insurance program.
While the Catarman Service Center has given a consistent mark as regional top performer, Agus however bewails the lack of mobility in their campaign, monitoring, coordination and over-all operationa of the center. Agus said that a vehicle should be assigned at the Catarman Service Center since they cover 34 municipalities and one city. (PIA-N. Samar) [top]
