MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has stepped in to assist a 72-year-old retiree afflicted with Stage 4 colon cancer and liver metastases through the provision of medical aid.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DSWD said the assistance is in the form of a PHP150,000 guarantee letter.
According to the DSWD, Secretary Rex Gatchalian learned of Emma “Bing” Kasilag’s health condition and her mounting hospital expenses through a newspaper report on Sunday.
He immediately ordered agency social workers to find the cancer patient and extend immediate assistance for her medical needs.
“Thank you for this information. Our social workers from the Department will locate her and assist her through our AICS Program,” Gatchalian said in a Facebook post.
The AICS program or the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation serves as the DSWD’s primary mechanism for providing immediate support to individuals and families in crisis, offering financial aid for medical needs, hospitalization bills, transportation, burial and other urgent needs.
Regional Director Barry Chua of the DSWD’s field office in Calabarzon said they promptly released a PHP150,000 guarantee letter to cover part of Kasilag’s medical expenses.
“We provided a guarantee letter. Discharged na si Bing today. She was also assured of further assistance pagkalabas ng hospital kung kailangan pa nila ng ibang tulong (Bing was already discharged and assured of further assistance if they need other kinds of help),” Chua said in a report on Monday.
Kasilag is a retired executive director and curator of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Museum and Historical Library Foundation.
She had been confined for nearly two weeks in a Cavite hospital due to complications from chemotherapy, and her medical expenses had exceeded PHP170,000, excluding doctors’ fees, with further costs expected for ongoing treatment.
According to the report, the 72-year-old retiree’s only source of income is her meager government pension.
Kasilag has tried to seek help from PhilHealth but was told that only patients with Stages 1 to 3 colorectal cancer are qualified for its assistance package.
The DSWD said it continues to work with local government units and other partner-agencies to ensure that individuals like Kasilag receive comprehensive support from hospitalization to post-discharge care, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to compassionate and responsive public service. (PNA)