Six Davao Region LGUs agree to become collecting agents of PhilHealth

By Carina L. Cayon

DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PIA) – Six municipal local government units in Davao Region have agreed to become collecting agents of Philhealth Regional Office XI in an aim to bring the latter’s services closer to the public.

The municipal LGUs of Bansalan, Sta. Cruz and Sulop of Davao del Sur, Banaybanay and Lupon of Davao Oriental, and Mawab of Compostela Valley have signed a commitment to support PhilHealth’s advocacy to accredit LGUs as Accredited Collecting Agents (ACA).

Dennis B. Adre, Philhealth-XI regional vice president, said tapping LGUs as ACAs will serve as alternative windows for collecting premium contributions from Philhealth members, especially from far-flung communities. 

“We don’t have banks in far-flung areas, and Philhealth members have to go to Davao City to pay for the premium,” Adre told the media in an interview during the commitment signing on June 15 at the Marco Polo Hotel.

He said accrediting LGUs as ACA will address this particular concern, and will provide accessibility and convenience for Philhealth’s individually paying members.

The accredited LGU will receive from Philhealth a service fee equivalent to 1.5 percent of the total collections every quarter, Adre stated.

He, however, said that they have proposed at Philhealth central office for a 3% service fee just like the existing fee of the accredited collecting banks.

He added that the proposal is likely to be approved.

According to Philhealth, a non-bank ACA that opted to collect Philhealth premiums through over-the-counter and has conformed to the prescribed Collection and Remittance Agreement (CRA) shall be required to provide Philhealth a bond (surety/fidelity).

An ACA is also required to use prescribed forms such as Philhealth Agents Receipt (PAR) and the Philhealth Premium Payment Slip (PPRS) which were devised to efficiently monitor collections and remittances of all ACAs.

Adre said they are hoping to cover all LGUs as ACAs next year.

Among Philhealth’s existing accredited collecting partners include Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), LBC, Bayad Center, MLhuillier, Remittance by Air, Philpost and SM malls. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)