An ordinance strengthening the PhilHealth program in the City of Bacolod, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday on third and final reading.
The ordinance was authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran and co-authored by Councilors Claudio Puentevella and Ana Marie Palermo. It said paragraph (a) of section 20 of Republic Act No. 10606, or “An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7875, or the National Insurance Act 0f 1995,as amended, and for other purposes” under the provision of sponsored program mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the payment of a premium contribution for subsequent coverage to PhilHealth of the following marginalized sectors: orphans, abandoned and abused minors, out-of-school youths, street children, persons with disabilities, and battered women. Aside from these sectors, it said there are vagrants and other poor members of society, likesingle parents who are left out by PhilHealth coverage, and who may be considered for the PhilHealth sponsored program under this ordinance, it said. It also said it is the policy of the City of Bacolod to provide “O” billing balance payments in the Corazon Locsin Monetebano Regional Hospital for the marginalized sectors/and other poor members of society under the sponsored PhilHealth program. The ordinance providesfor the creation of an Indigency Health Desk in the Office of the City Mayor and a budget of P1 million to be deposited in a trust fund created under this ordinance, which will be solely sourced from the sponsored program*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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A proposed ordinance making voluntary blood donation as settlement, instead of paying a fine, for violation of traffic regulations, was approved on second reading by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran, in his resolution, said the scarcity of blood worldwide has been noticed not just by foreign countries or by their health providers, but likewise by the International Red Cross. Such concern is identified when dengue illness hits the country, specifically in Bacolod City, resulting to shortage of blood in Bacolod-based hospitals, the resolution said. It also added that the cost of blood inaccessibly increased for a great number of people, contributing to the death of many poor patients, particularly children. Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang stated that last year, blood collection fell short of what was needed, the resolution cited. Only 440,000 units of blood have been collected, short by nearly a half with the 950,000 units of blooded needed by the country, it added. The resolution also stated that while there are blood banks in the Red Cross and the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and other private hospitals, scarcity of blood remains to be a major concern of the city. It cited Republic Act No. 7719 or “An Act Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, Providing for an Adequate Supply of Safe Blood, Regulating Blood Banks, and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof” has been passed by Congress to institutionalize and ensure adequate supply of blood. “Among the measures that are considered to generate additional blood for patients is to recognize the voluntary donation of blood by traffic violators in lieu of the mandated fine,” the resolution said. When approved, the ordinance will be known as the “City Ordinance on Blood Donation for Traffic Violation.” The traffic violator, however, who wants to donate blood shall be subjected to a medical examination by a doctor at the City Health Office (CHO) to check if he is medically qualified and physically fit to donate blood./WDJ By Nicole A. Villavecer Watchmen D BACOLOD City Councilor El Cid Familiaran has proposed an ordinance that will require traffic violators to donate blood instead of paying fines.
If approved, the ordinance, which hurdled the first reading, will address the scarcity of blood supply whenever there is a rise in dengue cases in the city. Familiaran said that worldwide, the scarcity of blood has been noticed not just by foreign countries or by their health providers, but likewise by the International Red Cross (IRC). Such serious concern has been identified when dengue illness hits the country, including the Bacolod City that resulted to shortage in blood supply in hospitals, and the cost of blood went up inaccessibly for many people that contributed to the cause of death of many poor patients, particularly children. The shortage of blood has been validated when Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang stated that in 2013, blood collection fell short of what is needed, considering that out of 950,000 units of blood which the country needs, PRC only collected 440,000 units of blood, representing just 49.6 percent of the nation’s badly needed blood. To address this major perennial health problem, measures that would generate more blood supply are most needed, the proposed ordinance stated. Republic Act No. 7719, “An Act Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, Providing for an Adequate Supply of Safe Blood, Regulating Blood Banks, and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof,” has been passed by Congress to institutionalize and ensure an adequate supply of blood. Among the measures considered to generate additional blood for patients is to recognize the voluntary donation of blood by traffic violators in lieu of the mandated fine. (CNC) By Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod Considering that most of the patients with kidney diseases are found in Negros Occidental, however, the hemodialysis machines at the Western Visayas Regional Hospital (WVRH) is not enough to serve the 99 hemo patients. Councilor ElCid Familiaran, chair, SP committee on health, resolve to request the Negrense congressmen, to donate hemodialysis machine.
Familiaran said he has also resolved and approved by the SP to request Pres. Benigno Aquino III through the Philhealth president Alexander Padilla to increase the hemodialysis treatment to kidney patients from 45 to 90 sessions under the Philhealth coverage. He is also requesting the Negrense congressmen to donate hemodialysis machines to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital. The present hemodialysis machines at the said hospital are not enough to serve the bulk of kidney patients in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. Familiaran addressed his request to Congressmen EvelioR. Leonardia-Lone District Representative of Bacolod City; Negros Occidental representatives Julio "Jules" A. Ledesma-1st District; Leo Rafael M. Cuevas-2nd District; Alfredo "Albee" Benitez-3rd District; Jeffrey M. Ferrer-4th District; Alejandro Y. Mirasol-5th District; Mercedes K. Alvarez-6th District; Neri J. Colmenares-Party List Representative of Bayan Muna Party List; Joseph Stephen Paduano-Party List Representative of Abang Lingkod Party List; Gary C. Alejano-Party List Representative of Magdalo Party List; and Roland De la Cruz-Party List Representative of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines(TUCP). Familiaran also said, estimated cost of a hemodialysis machine ranges from P 160,000, P 370,000 to P600,000 (depending on the quality) per supplier in Metro Manila. If each of our Congressman/Congressperson and Party-List Representative, either based in Bacolod City or in the Province of Negros Occidental, through their respective Congressional budget will donate one(1) hemodialysis machine to CLMMRH, then it would be a bold step to really address the situation of kidney illness, thereby, alleviate the plight of our patients in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, Familiaran likewise said.* Negros Daily Bulletin After seeing the positive effects of the grown trees now along Luzuriaga Extension fronting SM (Exit) Reclamation Area (see photos below), Councilor El Cid Familiaran said to himself, "this is it!"
These 12 to 15 feet Palosanto trees were planted by Councilor Familiaran right after the passage of City Ordinance 533, Series of 2011, which he authored. Barely three years hence, these grown trees made a difference, at least, along that area. "I can only imagine the environmental situation of the City, which all of us have been longing for - the sweet odor that would be given by the fresh leaves of trees and the breeze of winds, especially on the late afternoon and at dawn; the shades it would bring for the people and other living organisms, and the pollution it would absorb, that, in a sense, would contribute also to mitigate climatic change," Councilor Familiaran said. City Ordinance, C.O. No. 533, Series of 2011, " is an Ordinance Institutionalizing Arbor Day in the City of Bacolod, Enjoining Participation of Everybody Thereof, and Requiring City Scholars/Summer Jobber Students and Students of the Bacolod City College to Plant at Least Ten (10) Seedlings Every Year…,’ was implemented," the No. 1 City Councilor stated. "Had the stated particular ordinance was enforced since passage, the City does not only comply with the National Greening Program of the national government mandated under Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2011, but it also performed its inherent governmental function - that is to preserve the environment and protect its citizens," the Councilor expressed regret.* (PR) Negros Daily Bulletin A resolution imploring President Benigno Aquino lll through Alexander Padilla, PhilHealth president, to cause the elevation of PhilHealth coverage of kidney patients who are undergoing hemodialysis in hospitals based in Bacolod City from 45 sessions to 90 sessions every year, was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.
The resolution authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, said research data posted on July 29, 2008, titled, “The burden of kidney disease in the Philippines,”found out that about 120 Filipinos per million develop kidney failure, which means that each year about 10,000 Filipinos need kidney replacement. The study shows that, while there are three available remedy for kidney failure, such as hemodialysis, peritonal dialysis and kidney transplant, hemodialysis is usually opted by patients suffering from kidney failure, as the costs of peritonal dialysis and kidney transplant become prohibited. A kidney transplant alone requires a patient to pay for at least P200,000, the resolution said. A study from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, a tertiary government hospital providing services for kidney disease, showed that half of the patients who start dialysis die within a year, presumably, because they could not afford sufficient dialysis, it said. This result is back-up by another data, which stated, that, “adequate dialysis costs between P300,000 to P552,000.00 annually. It said. The resolution said a survey conducted by kidney specialists from May to July 2002, showed that only 46 percent out of the 182 patients with chronic kidney disease from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, who were prescribed dialysis. were able to start treatment. Among those who started dialysis, about 96 percent had inadequate treatment because they cannot afford the cost based on the data. Studies showed that PhilHealth only covers about 51 percent of the annual cost of treatment, if the maximum benefit has been claimed. Thus, a kidney patient has to pay for half of the treatment, or at least P150,000, it added.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star |
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