Metropolitan Manila and Development Authority (MMDA) staff and their dependents can look forward to better healthcare with the accreditation of the agency’s medical clinic as a Konsulta Package Provider (KPP) by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“As a KPP, the MMDA medical clinic would now be able to provide all of its staff and their dependents with a primary care benefits package,” MMDA Acting Chair Romando Artes said during a press conference at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City.

The primary care benefits package includes health profiling, consultations, diagnostic and laboratory tests such as chest X-rays, fasting blood sugar, and electrocardiograms, as well as medicines for certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.

The MMDA and PhilHealth also signed a memorandum of agreement to renew their partnership.

Under the agreement, the MMDA will allow the display of PhilHealth information materials in their digital and non-digital advertising platforms to provide timely information on PhilHealth services and benefits.

“We are committed to supporting and promoting the social health insurance and PhilHealth’s program for the benefit of the Filipino people, particularly in information dissemination,” Artes said.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. lauded the MMDA for being the first government non-uniformed agency to be accredited as a KPP.

He added that the renewed alliance between PhilHealth and the MMDA would help improve the public’s access to quality healthcare, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“By synergizing our efforts, we can better address our communities’ evolving healthcare needs and contribute to our nation’s overall health and resilience,” Ledesma said.

As part of the agreement, PhilHealth pledged to prioritize the conduct of orientation seminars and other information dissemination activities for the employees and beneficiaries of partner agencies during special events.

No more e-bikes on national roads

In the same event, Artes announced that there will be no apprehensions during the first two days of the implementation of MMDA Regulation No. 24-002, or the prohibition of e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs pushcarts, and kuliglig (sidecar) from national roads, circumferential roads, and radial roads in NCR.

The implementation of the ban began on Monday.

After the two-day dry run, he said violators will be fined PHP2,500. If the driver is not licensed and the vehicle is not registered, the vehicle will be impounded. (PNA)