Davao City  – The Libreng Gamot Para Sa Masa or Lingap sa Masa medicine assistance program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will now include in its coverage prosthetics, assistive devices, laboratory procedures and medical supplies.

The amendment is provided under Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2017 which also renames the program into Lingap at Gabay Para sa May Sakit (LinGap Sa MaSa)

In her message during the DSWD Monday convocation program, Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat said apart from Southern Philippines Medical Center here and Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, district and provincial hospitals and other regional hospitals operated by the government shall soon implement the program to cater to local residents qualified in the program.

Also, Director Jabagat said the program has expanded to include immediate family members of government contract of service workers as well as government workers.

Eligible in the program are indigents, government workers and immediate family, contract of service workers in the government and immediate family, wounded soldiers, and beneficiaries of soldiers who were killed or wounded in action.

The Php 1 billion program budget comes from the Office of the President’s Socio- Civic Projects Fund.

DSWD desks have been established in identified partner hospitals to carry out the program in regions NCR, 3, 6, 7 and 11.

Availing clients shall present original or certified true copy of the following: 1) any valid ID of the patient; 2) if patient has a representative, any valid ID of the representative and written authorization of the patient; 3) doctor’s prescription issued within the last three months; and 4) certificate of indigency or barangay certification.

“This is distinct and separate from the existing DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) which is dispensed in the regional offices of DSWD throughout the country,” Director Jabagat said. (DSWD)