THE Office of the President has committed to allocate P30 million every month for a community assistance program initiated by Davao City that benefits all parts of Mindanao.
The 18th City Council on Tuesday approved on suspended rules an ordinance giving legislative authority to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the benefactor for the Pagkalinga sa Bayan Program.
Pagkalinga Para sa Bayan is a one-stop shop for Lingap Program, PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which delivers health services to indigents and those low in resources admitted in Davao City hospitals. Their temporary office is now located at the Lingap Building fronting the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
Through the years, the city government has provided medical assistance and benefits to indigents through the Lingap Para sa Mahirap Program (Lingap) thus, the Office of the President has recognized the need to provide financial allocation.
“Considering that the guidelines of the Lingap Program has already been established, and taking cognizant of the pressing concern vis-à-vis the government’s obligation to prioritize health and well-being of the people in order to extend assistance beyond Davao City constituents, the Office of the President will allocate P30, 0000,000 monthly for the Pagkalinga sa Bayan Program to be sourced from the Socio-Civic Project Fund,” the resolution read.
The City Legal Office, through Atty. Oscar Mata, RSW, in Legal Opinion No. 43 series of 2018, found the stipulations of the Revised MOA fair, reasonable from any legal infirmity.
Copies of the resolution will be furnished to the office of the Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungod, City Mayor’s Office, City Social Services and Development Office, and DSWD 11.
Based on the copy of the memorandum of agreement, it was stated that “… the Office of the President shall allocate the amount of P30 million pesos monthly for a period of one year, chargeable against the Socio Civic Project Fund for the Pagkalinga ng Bayan Program.”
It was also stated that the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration shall pay direct to the hospitals, funeral parlors, and other establishments issued by Guarantee Letter upon receipt of billing statement and supporting documents.
The Local Government of Davao city shall utilize the funding solely for the Pagkalinga ng Bayan Program in Mindanao particularly in Davao Region, Soccsksargen and Caraga regions thru the issuance of Guarantee Letter.
In no case the amount shall not exceed P50,000 net of PhilHealth and other assistance for medical and P30,000 for funeral. The LGU-Davao City shall submit to the Office of the President the quarterly summary of Guarantee letter issued.