News Update Ace Cards to pack better healthcare coverage for Tarlac's poorest folk

TARLAC CITY, Philippines - Thousands of poverty-stricken residents of this city are the main target of the local government's "Balik Sigla" Program which will introduce by February next year an "Ace Card" that will cover their hospitalization and improve their healthcare benefits. Mayor Gelacio "Ace" Manalang said Monday meetings with hospital representatives are underway to finalize the healthcare package that will be included in the Ace Cards. With the new initiative, public and private hospitals within the city will provide better healthcare coverage to the underprivileged and allow covered patients to utilize the maximum amount of P20, 000 every time they need to undergo hospitalization. Compared to the Philhealth Card and the Yellow Card of Makati City, the Ace Card will be have a higher coverage ceiling that would enable bearers wider access to medical facilities. In a recent meeting with various hospital representatives and medical practitioners, Manalang stressed the need to ensure the health and safety of every Tarlaqueño. He said that parents who belong to the "poorest of the poor" sector are typically hampered by the fear of costly hospitalization which usually forces them to ignore their illnesses and refuses the thought of aggravation. "We must stop this once and for all, as workers of the government, we have the responsibility to empower our marginalized constituents, we have to equip them with better healthcare access in order for them to live and become more productive citizens of our society," Manalang said. To start off, the city government will tie up to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, public and private medical institutions, Bahay Bata sa Angeles City headed by Executive Director Dr. Gregorio Tengco, medical practitioners and among others. The city government has already put up a P50 million healthcare fund and Manalang seeks an equal amount as a counterpart fund from the PCSO to cover other expenses that will be used to load up benefits in the Ace Card.