Bacolod City: The city government is taking steps to extend healthcare benefits to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) through the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP).
According to Philippines News Agency, BacCHP focal person Mae Cuaycong stated in an interview that city officials are visiting district jails this week to provide an orientation on the city's healthcare program for PDL who are residents of Bacolod. Cuaycong indicated that the initiative aims to assist PDLs in need of hospitalization, with the city government offering support.
The BacCHP team is also helping some PDLs enroll in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The orientation began at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology's Metro Bacolod District Jail Male Dormitory Annex in Barangay Handumanan, which houses over 600 Bacolod residents and registered voters among its 900 PDLs. The team plans to visit the adjacent Female Dormitory later in the week.
Under BacCHP, each health cardholder and their dependents receive PHP15,000 coverage for hospital bills, facilitated through partnerships with eight local hospitals. These facilities include both public and private institutions, such as the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital, among others.
The program also encompasses mobile blood donation campaigns, medical missions, and other essential health services. Since 2023, BacCHP has enrolled approximately 140,000 main members and provided assistance to 14,050 patients by the end of February.
