Biñan City, Laguna Representative Len Alonte’s “Alagang Len” card is the latest in a series of programs of the local government to ensure that healthcare services will become affordable and accessible for Biñanenses.
Healthcare services has become even more accessible for Biñanenses.
Along with the improvement of basic healthcare services provided by the city government of Biñan, Laguna under Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Rep. Len Alonte, recently introduced another program that will ensure that Biñanenses, especially those in need, will receive much-needed medical care.
Last March 10, as part of the city’s celebration of Women’s Month, Rep. Alonte launched the “Alagang Len” card, a healthcare assistance program of her office, in a simple ceremony at the Biñan Elementary School.
That day, she entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the administration of the Ospital ng Biñan (OsBin), the city’s primary government-run healthcare provider, to ensure that these cards will be honored by the hospital.
She said the program is part of her office’s overall programs to empower the city’s womenfolk as it continues to uphold their contributions to the city’s socio-economic programs.
“Kahit papano ngayon, empowered na ang mga kababaihan alam na nila yung mga karapatan nila, yung dapat na nakukuha nila sa gobyerno at nakukuha nilang trato sa ibang tao,” she told OpinYon Laguna.
“At the end of the day, bukod doon no sana ay huwag nilang makalimutan yung pusong babae na nage-encompass sa tunay na pagmamahal, sakripisyo, at pagiging selfless so sana yun yung lagi nating ipagbunyi at ipagmalaki na tayo ay babae, kaya natin na lahat malampasan.”
Prevention a priority
In her speech during the launch, Alonte emphasized that the primary goal of the “Alagang Len” card is to enable Biñanenses to avail of services that will help them get diagnosis for their conditions sooner and prevent them from worsening.
“Ang gusto namin kasi ay tunay na mapangalagaan ang inyong kalusugan, dahil I’m sure na huli na po sa listahan ng priorities ng bawat household dito sa lungsod ng Biñan ang pagpapa-checkup. Kahit mura lang kasi ang ibinabayad natin sa checkup, yung iba sa atin, mas priority ang mabigyan ng baon sa araw-araw ang ating mga anak,” Alonte said.
“So ito pong ‘Alagang Len’ Card ay magtatanggal na po ng balakid na iyan dahil kahit papaano ay hindi na mababawasan ang ibinibigay ninyo sa inyong mga pamilya. At ayaw naman po naming na gamitin ninyo ang card na ito kapag nasa puntong, sabihin natin, nasa ICU na po kayo, kaya po itong card na ito ay ibibigay namin sa inyo para po maalala niyo palagi na gusto namin kayo alagaan at gusto namin healthy kayo palagi,” she added.
Mortality stats
“Recent data have shown that there are about 700,000 to 800,000 deaths per year here in the Philippines. Heart diseases are the leading cause with 77,000 deaths per year, followed by cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke and aneurysm and then cancer, diabetes and hypertension,” Dr. Melbril Alonte, Medical Director of the Ospital ng Biñan, also explained during the launching.
Morevoer, breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in the Philippines, followed by colon cancer, lung cancer cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and thyroid cancer, the medical director added.
“Ang mga sakit po na ito ay madaling matugunan kung maaagapan agad. At masakit rin po sa amin na makakita kami ng pasyente na hindi kayang magpa-laboratoryo at hindi nae-examine ng doktor. Sa programa pong ito ay umaasa kaming mapababa kahit papaano ang death rates natin through early diagnosis, early management and early treatment,” he said.
Benefits
City officials who briefed beneficiaries, said the "Alagang Len" card, along with the accompanying booklet, will serve as an "endorsement" for those availing of outpatient services at the Ospital ng Biñan.
The card itself contains P5,000, refillable every year, that can be used for outpatient medical services at the Ospital ng Biñan.
Alonte herself added that her office has decided not to put expiration dates on the cards to make it easier for beneficiaries to renew their cards, in keeping with existing laws removing expiration dates for gift checks, and other privilege cards.
“Pwede po siyang gamitin ng diretso basta po dalhin nyo po ang mga sumusunod na dokumento kagaya po ng certificate of indigency, ang inyong social case study, at photocopy ng government-issued ID na nagpapatunay na taga-Biñan po kayo," Barangay Poblacion Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairpersom President Ingrid Almeda explained.
The card is non-transferable and cannot be used by persons other than the beneficiaries, who were also advised to avail of checkup services first before proceeding to the Ospital ng Biñan.
"Malaking halaga na po ito upang mabawasan ang ating gastusin sa araw-araw, lalo na po yung mga nangangailangan ng X-ray, ultrasound, laboratory procedures at iba pang mga serbisyo," Almeda added.
Meanwhile, thanks to the efforts of Councilor Elvis Bedia, "Alagang Len" Card holders will also enjoy a 5-percent discount on healthcare services provided by Unihealth Southwoods Hospital.
Alonte also said that her office is now working with Councilor Bedia to expand the scope of the benefits card holders will receive at the Unihealth hospital network.
The program will initially target Biñan City’s senior citizens, although city officials said the ultimate goal is that other sectors of society will also receive the card.
"Sa mga susunod na buwan po, mabibigyan rin po ang mga persons with disability (PWDs), mga kasapi ng LGBTQIA+ community, mga kababaihan, at mga kababayan nating dumadaan sa dialysis," Almeda said.
Other benefits
The launch of the “Alagang Len” Card is the latest in a series of social services provided by the city government, including its much-vaunted local social pension program, that are aimed to uplift the lives of its residents, particularly senior citizens, according to Biñan City Vice Mayor Gel Alonte.
“Nais ko pong magpasalamat sa inyo dahil kung wala po kayo, wala rin po kami nina Mayor Arman at Cong. Len sa kinatatayuan naming. Kaya ang promise ko po ay kung ano pa po ang mas maitutulong naming sa ating mga kababaihan, lalo na sa mga senior citizen, ay ibibigay po namin,” Vice Mayor Alonte, one of the co-authors of the city’s social pension ordinance, said.
“Asahan niyo naman po, kung ano po ang maitutulong naming sa abot ng aming makakaya magsabi lang po kayo, sa ating mga lolo at lola, isang lapit, m-adelay nang konti pero ang ‘Big Three’ leaders, sinisigurado naman po na tutuparin namin,” he said.
Big boost
For many Biñanense senior citizens - most of whom are now experiencing ailments that come with advancing age – the "Alagang Len" card provides a financial and moral boost.
"Malaking bagay talaga sa amin itong 'Alagang Len' card, lalo na sa hirap ng buhay ngayon," Teresita Jordan, a 65-year-old from Barangay Loma, told OpinYon Laguna during the launch.
“Lalo na ngayon na marami na po akong nararamdaman, maaari na akong makapag-checkup at mag-laboratoryo, saka yung maintenance na gamot, mabibili ko na po,” she added. “Sobra kaming nagpapasalamat sa LGU dahil sa mga magagandang programa para sa mga mamamayan ng Biñan.”
Bernadette Kadahar, who was the very first recipient of the "Alagang Len" card, was also grateful to the local government of Biñan for the program.
"Your program will indeed benefit many Biñanenses, especially the senior citizens,” she said in a social media post.