Surigao Norte receives P7M in Philhealth capitation fund

By Fryan E. Abkilan

Thursday 5th of July 2012

SURIGAO CITY, July 5 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) turned over P7, 756,440.96 to the provincial government of Surigao del Norte representing capitation fund payments Tuesday.

Capitation fund is PhilHealth’s way of returning a portion of its members' contributions to their respective local government units to improve their health services.

Dr. Eduardo Banzon, PhilHealth president and CEO, presented a check to Governor Sol Matugas held at the Provincial Convention Center.

Other areas also received their capitation fund payments, which included: the municipality of Alegria with P172,000; municipality of Gigaquit with P292,200; municipality of Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands with P496,200; and municipality of Dinagat, Dinagat Islands with P694,050.

"The capitation funds from PhilHealth greatly helped the provincial government in improving the health services to all the Surigaonons. I thank Dr. Banzon for keeping my health agenda alive through PhilHealth," Matugas said.

Banzon, on the other hand, said, "we’re not here just to talk about enrolment on our ID cards, that’s the old PhilHealth. Health insurance is not just the ID cards, health insurance is not just enrolment, health insurance is about financial protection and making sure that each of the Filipinos when they’re sick can avail themselves of health services. This is what we are doing now in PhilHealth.”

To date, PhilHealth enrollment in Surigao del Norte had reached around 40,000 families. (RER/FEA-PIA 13, Surigao del Norte)