Naga marks PWD month

By Jason B. Neola

The Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) of the Naga City government will be conducting on July 13 an orientation seminar on the Universal Healthcare Program of the national government and Republic Act 11228 that provides for the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all Persons with Disability (PWDs).

The seminar, which is included in the list of projects to be undertaken for the celebration of the Naga City Persons with Disability Month, will be participated in by the city’s 27 punong barangay, chairpersons of the committee on PWDs at the barangay councils, the community-based rehabilitation specialists (CBRS), and the Barangay Persons with Disability Association (BAPDA).

Lawyer Paul John Barrosa, PDAO chief, said the activity aims to equip the PWD stakeholders with knowledge on the healthcare program and Republic Act 11228, an Act declaring that all persons with disability (PWDs) shall be automatically covered under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippines Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The law provides that: “Premium contributions for all PWDs shall be paid by the national government, provided, that the premium contribution of PWD member in the formal economy shall be shared equally by their employers and the national government.”

The funds necessary for its effective implementation will be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth earmarked from the proceeds of Republic Act No. 10351, also known as Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012. 

The national government’s imposition of sin taxes on alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and sugar-sweetened beverages has enabled it to fund the country’s Universal Health Care program.

The law mandating the free health insurance coverage for PWDs directs the PhilHealth to develop exclusive packages for PWDs to be able to effectively address their specific health and development needs.

Other activities that form part the celebration of the PWD month in the city, include: free massage services for City Hall employees by the members of Naga City Visually Impaired Association, reorganization and election of new set of officers of women with disability, a recruitment training seminar for the members of the Naga City Deaf Society.

On July 28, the city government thru the PDAO will distribute food assistance and adult diapers for 514 bedridden PWDs in the city. Naga has more than 6,000 registered PWDs including the members of the Naga City Little People.