PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has saturated 85 percent of the Palawan population with its active membership, including dependents, said local office.

Marian Carlos, social security assistant and information officer, said during Kapihan sa PIA that the current members of PhilHealth account for 85 percent of the 1.2 million Palaweños as of the 2021 population data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“As of 2021, sa PSA ay 1.2 million ang population ng Palawan. As of December 2023, ang registered natin kay PhilHealth ay 85 percent, siguro sabihin natin na nasa around 900,000 kung 85 percent, nasa ganon,” she said.

One of the campaigns of PhilHealth to increase membership is encouraging students under the age of 21 to also register themselves. It was the agency’s effort to ensure the access of students to universal health care.

Carlos said students must have a certificate from school registration, a copy of their birth certificate, and a financial incapable certificate from the City Social Welfare and Development Office or its municipal counterpart.

“Kailangan lang mag-fill up ng PhilHealth member registration form at i-submit sa aming opisina. Kung hindi kayo mismo ang pupunta, ang pwede lang namin i-issue ay member data record, ang ID ay kailangang puntahan mismo sa aming opisina,” she said.

Carlos, on the other hand, added that PhilHealth requires a certificate of first-time job seeker and not a certificate of good moral character to assist job seekers with PhilHealth registration.

It is part of RA 11261— the act of waiving government fees and charges in the issuance of documents required in the application for employment of first-time job seekers in the country.

“Ang nakakalungkot lang ay nagbabayad sila ng certificate sa barangay, tapos mali ang nabibigay sa kanila—once na-employ na sila, ang PhilHealth number na binigay namin ay ‘yon na ang gagamitin ni employer para magkaroon na sila ng hulog,” she added.

Kapihan sa PIA is a program by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Mimaropa, streaming live on PIA Mimaropa and PIA Palawan's Facebook pages. (RG/PIA Mimaropa - Palawan)