Four chief executives from the first district attended the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program Conference  at the Consuelo Community Center in San Carlos City, Wednesday, a Capitol press release said.

Mayors Gerardo Valmayor, Jr. of San Carlos,  Melecio Yap, Jr. of Escalante City, Araceli Somosa -  Calatrava,  and  Laurence Marxlen Dela Cruz - Don Salvador Benedicto participated in the conference,   with  representatives from  Toboso town and from the Office of  Rep. Jules Ledesma (Neg. Occ., 1st District).

Provincial consultant and program manager Roy Balicas of the NOCHP  introduced the program as one of the  priority projects embodied in the Negros First Development Agenda of Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. He also explained the objectives and membership mechanics of NOCHP, the press release said.

NOCHP Core Group head and Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Marlin Sanogal said, it is also a way giving dignity to indigent Negrenses who used to beg money from their local officials,  in times of emergency and poor health conditions, the press release said.

As soon as they will have their NOCHP cards beneficiaries will be entitled to free outpatient care and subsidized in-patient care in provincial government-run hospitals, and other participating government hospitals, including the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, the press release said.

Social welfare officers and hospital staff from the five local government units also attended the conference.

The participants were given NOCHP forms for the initial enrolment of beneficiaries slated January 25 at the San Carlos City Auditorium. The MOA signing will be part of the NOCHP launching in the First District.

There are now 17,000 NOCHP cardholders in the province  after  it was launched in September last year, the press release added.*

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