The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) advocates for formal partnership with medical service providers across the CALABARZON Region to ensure a more efficient delivery of financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
In a dialogue conducted last June 7 with representatives from 30 hospitals, five dialysis centers and one pharmacy, the DSWD Field Office IV-A emphasized the importance of entering into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the agency.
“The MOA will ensure smooth transaction between the DSWD and the service providers which eventually benefits our clients. Our goal here is to provide help faster and more conveniently and ease the burden of those seeking for financial assistance,” said Lucia Almeda, social worker and head of the Protective Services Unit of the DSWD Field Office IV-A.
Under the MOA, the service providers can secure a credit line of up to PhP300,000 from the DSWD and ensure that their services are available to the clients.
Instead of providing cash to clients seeking assistance to pay for hospital bills and purchase of medicines, the DSWD will issue a guarantee letter that indicates the amount of assistance being provided based on the DSWD’s assessment.
The service provider will bill the DSWD based on the amount of guarantee letters they have received and processed from clients on a bi-monthly schedule.
“This strategy not only ensures a faster provision of assistance to our clients. Since the DSWD is directly paying the service providers, we are assured that the funds are allotted directly to what the clients are seeking assistance for,” Almeda shared.
To date, there are 30 hospitals, dialysis centers and pharmacies with formal engagement with the DSWD Field Office IV-A for the provision of medical assistance using this kind of strategy in the region.
The DSWD, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, provides financial assistance including medical, educational, burial and transportation to indigent individuals and families in need.***