Koronadal City—The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office reported the released of at least P68M as hospital and medicine assistance to 11, 370 indigents people in South Cotabato last year, according to Crisis Intervention Unit Head Grace Aperocho.
“Half of the total budget for Crisis Intervention was put into the Indigent Hospitalization Fund-Medical. The allocation is intended for hospital billing and medicine assistance for indigent individuals,” she explained during the recent Hinun-anon sa Kapitolyo.
Meanwhile, Cora Obenieta, Crisis Intervention and Rehabilitation Division Head, stressed that the Provincial Government spent a total of P134.7M for Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation, donations, mortuary assistance, cash assistance , rice and burial assistance and assisted 27, 566 indigents in 2022.
“We served an average of 150 to 200 clients every weekday and we are open even on Saturdays and Sundays,” she said.
PSWDO assured that the released of assistance, if documents are complete, could be done within a day.
Based on the record, the Provincial Government inked an agreement with Allah Valley Medical Center Specialist Inc. Hospital, Dr. Arturo Pingoy Hospital, SOCOMEDICS and other private hospitals in the City of Tacurong, General Santos City and Davao City to accommodate indigent residents residing in the boundary areas of South Cotabato.
“We are working out the agreement with St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City,” she said.
On the other hand, Obenieta said PSWDO also partnered with pharmacies and funeral homes in South Cotabato in providing medicine and burial assistance to the clients.
“We are asking the public to give us your feedback so that we could assist and provide you the best we can,” Obenieta added.
