Rocelyn Estillar (in red), 41, a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Brgy. Poblacion 2, Agdangan in Quezon Province, learned the value of keeping an eye on her children’s health, especially her son Jimuel, 10, who have asthma. She is glad that she is able to avail free checkups and medicines for her children that ensure regular monitoring of their health and also big savings she can use for their other needs.***
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Free medicines, big savings for tomorrow
Rocelyn Estillar, 41, is going home with a smile.
Clutching a few bottles of medicine for her son’s asthma, she has one less burden to carry.
Rocelyn brought 10-year-old son Jimuel to the health center in the town proper for a checkup. She could not be more contented as her days of worrying about money to buy medicines or going to a health center several miles away are finally over.
For her, it is not just the free medicines or the closer health facility that make her glad. It is finally being contented that as a mother, she can take care of the health of her children and do a lot more things for them, especially for their future.
Monitoring her children’s health
Rocelyn’s family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2011 when they were in Sorsogon Province.
The Pantawid Pamilyang program provides conditional cash grants to qualified poor families in support for the health, nutrition and educational needs of children zero to 18 years old. The said grants, however, are provided upon the beneficiaries’ compliance to the set conditions of the program including 85% monthly school attendance and monthly health checkup of children.
“Para sa pamilya naming nakatira sa bundok, mahirap sundin ang mga kundisyon ng programa. Malayo kami sa health center at sa school. Nahihirapan ang mga batang makapasok,” Rocelyn shared.
With this in mind and the family’s desire to have a better life, Rocelyn, together with her husband Ricardo and five children, decided to move to Agdangan in Quezon Province in 2013.
Though Rocelyn does not say life is better here, it makes their daily living a lot more convenient for every member of their family, especially to Jimuel’s health needs.
“Umaasa kami sa herbal kapag hinihika s’ya. Kung mapapacheck-up ko man s’ya, kailangan pa naming mangutang ng Php300 para mabili ang resetang gamot para sa kanya,” Rocelyn shared.
Today, however, she has less to worry. Their house in Brgy. Poblacion 2 is just a few minutes walk to the health center. Further, they are able to avail free medicines and vitamins.
“Kahit ‘yung ibang mga anak kong walang sakit, pinapacheckup ko na buwan-buwan. Kahit wala kaming pera, okay lang. Masaya ako bilang ina kasi namomonitor ko na ang kalusugan ng mga anak ko at madaling maagapan kung may sakit man sila,” shared Rocelyn.
According to Cenona Parafina, a midwife assigned in the Rural Health Unit of Agdangan, every Pantawid beneficiary is provided with free medicines here as long as there are supplies. They are prioritized by the RHU because they are members of PhilHealth.
Education for a brighter tomorrow
The free medicines for Jimuel have allowed the family to save. With Ricardo’s meager income as a farmer, slashing the Php300 allotment for Jimuel’s medicines and vitamins became a great help in supporting their other needs.
“Nakakatipid na kami at nailalaan namin sa ibang pangangailangan sa bahay katulad ng pambili ng gamit sa school ng mga bata. Malaking tulong talaga sa pamilya namin,” shared Rocelyn.
Surrounded by optimism, Rocelyn is determined to change the course of their lives in the future. Keeping an eye on the health of her children is one step. After all, she believes healthy children will be given better opportunities to develop their potentials, especially in school.
“Kahit sa maliit naming kita, nag-iipon kaming mag-asawa para sa pag-aaral ng mga bata. Magsisikap kami para masigurong maging mas maayos ang buhay nila paglaki nila,” she shared.***