(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 11 November 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Typhoon "NIKA" {TORAJI} was estimated based on all available data at 120 km East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora (15.9°N, 123.2°E) with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h. It is moving West Northwestward at 20 km/h. TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY SEVERE TROPICAL STORM YINXING (2422) (FORMERLY "MARCE") LOCATION: 880 KM WEST OF NORTHERN LUZON (18.5°N, 112.2°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 110 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 135 KM/H MOVEMENT: SOUTHWESTWARD AT 15 KM/H TROPICAL STORM MAN-YI (2424) LOCATION: 3,555 KM EAST OF CENTRAL LUZON (15.2°N, 154.8°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 85 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 105 KM/H MOVEMENT: EASTWARD SLOWLY TROPICAL DEPRESSION LOCATION: 1,685 KM EAST OF EASTERN VISAYAS (11.4°N, 141.2°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 45 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 55 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST NORTHWESTWARD AT 35 KM/H 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


Friday, 27 October 2023

Proposed budget for health insurance to benefit more beneficiaries, higher coverage for PWDs

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman announced the proposed P101.51 billion budget in 2024 for the national health insurance program under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a substantial increase of P1.28 billion from the previous budget to accommodate an expanded pool of beneficiaries and to double the annual premium rate for persons with disabilities (PWDs) from P2,400 to P5,000.

Under the mandate of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law or R.A. 11223, PhilHealth is tasked to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available, and accessible health care services for all Filipinos.

The proposed 2024 budget reflected the government's commitment to fortifying health care for marginalized and disadvantaged communities, leveraging insights from the pandemic to bolster primary care units across the country.

“Given the lessons from the pandemic, the FY 2024 proposed budget will continue to strengthen primary healthcare facilities in the country, including medical assistance amounting to P22.26 billion to 1.31 million indigent and financially incapacitated patients who are unable to afford nor access quality healthcare services,” said Pangandaman.

The proposed PhilHealth program benefits are slated to reach approximately 12.75 million indigent members as identified by the national household targeting system under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); 8.26 million senior citizens (as per RA 10645); over 15,000 financially handicapped point-of-service patients; 136,000 unemployed persons with disabilities, and 25,512 individuals as identified in the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Peace and Development Program. 
(DBM/PIA-Caraga)