Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice-Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who are running against each for the gubernatorial position in the election next year, and Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) have been invited to the distribution of NOCHP cards to more than 1,000 recipients today in Silay City.

Marañon said the health cards aim to institutionalize the NOCHP, and will be given to underprivileged Negrenses, regardless of political color.

Alvarez had earlier said that the delivery of health services to Negrenses should be beyond politics.

Marañon said Rep. Julio Ledesma IV of the 1st district of Negros Occidental recently contributed P2.5 million to the NOCHP, that started to be implemented in September 2010.

Roy Balicas, who is supervising the NOCHP operations, informed Marañon that Benitez gave P10 million, a portion of which is being paid to PhilHealth premiums of the third district recipients, while Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (6th district) contributed P6.5 million, and P5 million each from Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd district), Rep. Alejandro Mirasol (5th district) and Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (4th district).

Before the province-wide implementation of NOCHP, Alvarez had said that he has already instituted a similar health program in the 6th district of Negros Occidental.

Benitez said politics should not interfere with the implementation of good programs, apparently referring to NOCHP.

The number of NOCHP enrollees has reached 87,890 as of last month, with about 439,450 beneficiaries, its records show.

NOCHP reports show that the 3rd district has the most number of enrollees with 28,162 indigent families, followed by the 6th district with 22,466, second district with 20,847, fifth district – 7,130, fourth district – 6,119 and 3,166 in the first district.

As of Sept 18 this year, NOCHP served 20,037 patients, about 40 percent of which had been confined and treated at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

The third district, posted the highest availment of health services in the government hospitals, with 7,484 patients, followed by 2nd district with 6,028, and the 6th district with 5,562 patients.

Almost P46 million had been also spent in the treatment of more than 20,000 patients, of which P10,280,759.36 was paid by NOCHP. On the other hand, PhilHealth paid P34,886.429.41 and P6,157,824.19 from the Medical Social Service, also known as the SWA.*GPB

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