<strong>Colet finds solace in “Bulig sa Kubos”</strong>
In this difficult time when poverty, illness, and death strike families, Koronadaleños find solace in knowing that they can seek assistance from the government through its “Bulig sa Kubos” program.
Colet, a resident of barangay Morales has to endure the wait as she waits in line, going from one agency to another seeking all sorts of medical help that she might need for her son Jade’s weekly dialysis.
As a church worker, Colet sees the program as an answer to their prayers. A ray of hope for a mother who wants to provide for his son’s medical needs. Colet is just one of many city residents who visit the government to request medical and financial assistance.
Her son Jade, now 31, is on dialysis twice a week after being diagnosed with kidney disease about 4 years ago. After learning that the city government has amended Section 5 of Ordinance No. 28, Series 2021, otherwise known as the “Bulig sa Kubos” program, she has a new sense of relief that the amendments will give her the opportunity to regularly ask for help within the local government unit.
The said ordinance orders to provide a well-defined policies/guideline and a standard system of availment of assistance and benefits to make the program of the city more efficient, responsive, accessible and fair to all.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlungsod firmly believes that the enacted regulation will provide more diverse support that will benefit more people, especially the poor, but more importantly it will be fair and just to all, nevertheless, amendments in the ordinance may provide more clarity and substantial benefits to the beneficiaries of the program. The assistance to be provided is based on the benefit schedule outlined below;
- Hospital and Billing Assistance
| Net Amount of Hospital Bill | Approved Assistance |
| Below P5,000 | Full amount of the bill |
| P5,001 to P20,000 | P5,000 |
| P20,001 to P50,000 | P8,000 |
| P50,001 to P80,000 | P10,000 |
| P80,001 to P120,000 | P12,000 |
| P120,001 to P160,000 | P15,000 |
| P160,001 to P200,000 | P20,000 |
| P200,001 to P300,000 | P30,000 |
| P300,001 to P500,000 | P40,000 |
| Above P500,000 | P50,000 |
- Medical Procedure/ Treatment and Laboratory Assistance
| Procedure/ Treatment/Laboratory | Approved Assistance |
| Laboratory Request below P3,000 | Full amount |
| Laboratory request above P3,000 | P3,000 |
| CT Scan | P4,000 |
| MRI | P7,000 |
| Orofacila Cleft Operation | P2,000 |
| Ligation | P3,000 |
| Chemotherapy | P15,000 |
| Radiation | P10,000 |
- Maintenance Medication Assistance
| Procedure/ Treatment/Laboratory | Approved Assistance |
| Below P3,000 | Full amount |
| P3001 to P5,000 | P3,000 |
| P5,000 to 10,000 | P4,000 |
| P10,001 to 30,000 | P5,000 |
| Above P30,000 | P7,000 |
- Dialysis Treatment Assistance
| Initial Treatment (Creation of Vascular Access) | P15,000 |
| For regular/ succeeding treatment | Equivalent to 1 treatment per week |
| Approved Assistance | |
| Normal Case | P5,000 and 1 sack of rice (50kg) |
| Death due to HIV / AIDS and COVID-19 | P10,000 and 1 sack of rice (50 kg) |
- Assistance for Apparatus
| Apparatus Requested | Approved Assistance |
| Eyeglasses | P1,500 |
| Hearing Aid | P2,000 |
| Prosthesis | P3,000 |
Assistance can be availed by the beneficiary not more than once in every quarter, if necessary, except for dialysis treatment. It may be in a form of cash, check, guaranty letter, promissory note, coupon or stub.
“The aid is really a big help because my son has been on dialysis for so long, we are financially drain and our resources are going to run out. So, the help we are getting is definitely a big help,” said Colet in an interview.
Without the help, the weekly bill would certainly be a huge burden for Colet and her family. “Without the support, we can no longer finance the weekly dialysis costs. I can really say that this is a great help. Without government help, we cannot afford to send our patients for dialysis on a regular basis,” she said.
“With this new ordinance, I can live with this and I am satisfied, although there are some restrictions. I don’t have biases and I have always used my discretion soundly when giving financial, medical and burial assistance and donations”, Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena stated during an interview on the city’s weekly Development Program, “Tingog sang Pagsanyog,” which was broadcasted on the city’s Facebook page.
According to Mayor Ogena, one of his top priorities among his flagship programs anchored in his Ten (10) Point Development Agenda is social services.
Colet will not return home empty-handed. Although she will face financial difficulties the following week, she has at least survived this week’s medical needs.