CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in CALABARZON are set to benefit from improved tuberculosis (TB) care and enhanced financial support following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PhilHealth Regional Office IV-A (PRO IV-A) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Regional Office CALABARZON.
The agreement, led by Acting Regional Vice President Dr. Edwin M. Oriña and BJMP CALABARZON Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent (JCSUPT) Isabelo V. Cartin Jr., establishes a strengthened partnership to ensure the effective implementation of the TB-DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) Package for PDLs across the region.
With almost 20,000 PDLs in CALABARZON, the initiative addresses the heightened risk of TB in jail facilities, where congestion, prolonged close contact, and poor ventilation contribute to the spread of the disease.
Through the MOA, all TB-diagnosed PDLs—whether bacteriologically or clinically confirmed, including drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cases—will be systematically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) and provided access to comprehensive TB services.
These services include screening, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and reporting, as well as reimbursement of healthcare costs through PhilHealth. The partnership ensures that PDLs undergoing treatment—whether at the BJMP CALABARZON Regional Infirmary TB-DOTS Facility or other PhilHealth-accredited TB-DOTS centers—are covered from start to treatment completion.
Currently, 66 PDLs are undergoing treatment for Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) under the care and custody of the BJMP CALABARZON Regional Infirmary TB-DOTS Facility. In addition, 50 PDLs have been successfully treated and declared cured, all of whom benefited from the recent MOA and are registered with PhilHealth—highlighting the program’s early gains in improving health outcomes within jail facilities.
A key feature of the agreement is the institutionalization of coordinated processes between PhilHealth and BJMP, enabling faster claims processing and efficient reimbursement of TB-DOTS benefits. This not only strengthens healthcare delivery within detention facilities but also eases the financial burden associated with TB treatment.
The BJMP CALABARZON Regional Infirmary TB-DOTS Facility, established in 2012, plays a central role in the initiative. Recently certified by the Department of Health as a TB service provider valid until May 2028, the facility serves as an isolation and treatment center for TB-affected PDLs, helping prevent further transmission within jail communities.
The MOA also supports the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act (Republic Act No. 11223), which guarantees automatic PhilHealth coverage for all Filipinos, including those in custodial settings. It further reinforces Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, mandating PhilHealth to provide benefit packages for priority diseases such as TB.
During the signing ceremony held on March 3, 2026, Dr. Oriña highlighted key PhilHealth initiatives, including the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which aims to enhance healthcare access for PDLs through expanded benefits, streamlined processes, and improved service delivery.
This first-of-its-kind agreement between PhilHealth and BJMP sets a precedent for similar collaborations nationwide, signaling a broader push to extend healthcare access to marginalized and vulnerable sectors.
With this partnership, authorities underscore that access to quality healthcare remains a fundamental right—ensuring that PDLs in CALABARZON receive the care and support they need, in line with the principle that no one is left behind. (CCM- PIA CALABARZON)
