Some 500 coconut farmers from two municipalities of Antique province will benefit from the initial rollout of the medical mission by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

Gregory Teñoso III, PCA Division Chief I for Aklan-Antique, said the Coconut Farmers and Industry Plan-DuMobile Health Services Run under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Plan will be held at the Municipal Gymnasium of Patnongon on June 22 to 23; and at the Evacuation Center in San Remigio on June 25 to 26.

“The medical mission is intended to provide health services to coco farmers living in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA),” Teñoso said in an interview Monday.

Last year, the PCA Antique has also provided medical services to 1,110 coco farmers in three medical missions conducted in the province.

Meanwhile, Teñoso said the Antique provincial board has approved a resolution authorizing Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the PCA for the implementation of the latter’s health and medical program for farmers and their families at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH) in San Jose de Buenavista.

“Through the agreement, farmers. whenever they need hospital confinement, could already be admitted at the ASMGH as a PCA-accredited hospital,” he said.

He said farmers registered with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) or their family members may avail of the hospital confinement, laboratory, and treatment in the amount of PHP40,000 every three months whenever necessary.

The farmer or his family member can also avail of PHP5,000 worth of medicines as part of the post-confinement medical assistance.

Aside from the ASMGH, Teñoso said they are also working for accreditation of the Antique Medical Center (AMC), a private hospital in San Jose de Buenavista.

“We expect that the MOA signing will be done simultaneously with the ASMGH and AMC within this month so coconut farmers may benefit as soon as possible,” he said.

There are 53,254 farmers in Antique that are registered with the NCFRS. (PNA)