The city government of Mati and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) entered into an agreement on Friday to offer mental healthcare packages to members.

During the signing ceremony in Mati City, Mayor Michelle Rabat expressed optimism the city could eventually serve more patients with the partnership.

Rabat thanked PhilHealth for its tie-up with the local government unit (LGU), a first in the country.

The PhilHealth mental health package started in October 2023 with benefits of PHP9,000 and PHP16,000 per patient.

Dr. Benhur Catbagan Jr., Mati health officer, said the LGU-initiated community-based mental healthcare facility is now the third in the country to be contracted by the PhilHealth as a service provider for the outpatient benefit package for mental healthcare.

Catbagan said the facility is also the first LGU-initiated community-based mental health facility in the country to achieve this distinction.

“Access to mental healthcare is a significant challenge not only in our country but globally. Here in the City of Mati, our journey to address this vital health need has been filled with numerous challenges and sacrifices,” Catbagan said. (PNA)