Tubod, Lanao del Norte  – More than 80 barangay health workers from different municipalities of Lanao del Norte participated in the provincial launching of the National PhilHealth Registration Day (NPRD) dubbed as “PhilHealth Sabado” held at the Macapagal Training Center, Tubod on September 16, 2010.

The launching was initiated by PhilHealth-Iligan Service Office in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte thru its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III declared universal health care as the center piece of his administration’s health agenda stating that, ”plans for improving PhilHealth can now be within reach”.

P-Noy also stressed his plan for universal coverage in his inaugural speech saying, “serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng PhilHealth, para sa lahat, sa loob ng tatlong taon”.

Heeding this directive, PhilHealth simultaneously launched nationwide PhilHealth Sabado to promote awareness of Philhealth’s importance and healthcare benefits especially for the poorest of the poor in the country.

The Aquino administration is targeting to enroll within 3 years the identified 800 thousand poor families that are still not covered by PhilHealth.

The national registration day for PhilHealth by non-members is scheduled on October 2 (Saturday), thus its slogan.

PhilHealth will already accept registration and member update forms on September 20 to 24 from their designated desks in strategic towns in the province. Successful registrants who have complied with the necessary documentary requirements can then claim their PhilHealth cards on October 2.

For market vendors, motorcab drivers and other self-employed individuals, they need to bring government issued identification documents and P300 as 3-months advance premium payment for them to be registered and accepted as new Philhealth members. However, succeeding premium payments must be made only at PhilHealth offices and payment centers.

“We would like to invite all PhilHealth members and non-members to out and visit our desks on September 20-24 and be involved in this campaign to help realize the call of our President for universal coverage of PhilHealth”, urged Chief Social Insurance Officer Christine Mae Magno. VNL/PIO-LDN