The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD6)’s recent special program, “Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa” (LINGAP sa MASA) was introduced to the Local Government Units in the province of Capiz.
“The agency is currently making efforts to make all the provinces in Western Visayas avail the LINGAP sa MASA program,” said Rosario Sanagustin, DSWD6 Social Welfare Officer V and LINGAP sa MASA Focal.
The said activity was spearheaded by Sanagustin and was held as a one-day orientation at Hotel Del Rio, Molo, Iloilo City last July 3, 2017.
LINGAP sa MASA or Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa is a program by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who allocated P1 billion assistance to the society to aid their medical expenses.
The program targets the poor, vulnerable or disadvantaged sector, the informal sector and those listed under the Listahanan ng Mahihirap na Pamilya database; government employees especially those who are contractual; and the family or relatives of soldiers and policemen wounded while performing their duties.
Also, LINGAP sa MASA provides assistance through the issuance of guarantee letters for the purchase of medicines from hospital pharmacies or from partner drug stores, wherein the DSWD is the lead agency who manages and implements to ensure that the program is properly distributed to the indigent citizens.
In region 6, the Western Visayas Medical Center in the municipality of Mandurriao is DSWD’s pilot hospital implementing the program. The partner pharmacies are the EVZ Pharmacy, JOSMEF Pharmacy and the Mercury Drug store.
Part of the condition of the program is that the patient should be admitted in WVMC to avail the medical assistance of LINGAP sa MASA. Capiz LGUs present during the workshop related that the province’s distance poses a big disadvantage for them to have the accessibility.
According to Sanagustin, the agency is now communicating with Roxas Memorial Hospital to make the LINGAP sa MASA program accessible to all Capizeños.
Further, she emphasized that the LGUs’ role is the most essential in order for the program to succeed. “The cooperation of all the LGUs is needed to heighten full awareness of the people regarding the LINGAP sa MASA program”, she finally said./dswd6/XzyrabelleServento/