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PHL Consul General address Guam mayors and pushed for medical tourism
Author : Official Gazette
Published: May 18, 2012
Philippine Consul General to Guam Bayani V. Mangibin paid a courtesy visit to the Mayors’ Council of Guam during its special monthly meeting last May 16.
The Council is composed of the various village mayors all over the island and is headed by its president, Mayor Melissa Savares of Dededo.
In his address to the Council, Consul General Mangibin thanked the Mayors and Vice Mayors present for the opportunity to meet the Council members in order to facilitate his introduction to the different village mayors on the island.
He also expressed appreciation for the friendly relations between the Philippines and Guam and between the villages of Guam and the various cities, municipalities, and provinces in the Philippines which they have sister-city agreements with.
Consul General Mangibin also addressed some queries from the village mayors, particularly the extension of visas for those seeking medical treatment in the Philippines and the requirements on the donation of goods to its partner cities and municipalities.
The Consul General likewise asked the support of the Council and the village mayors in advocating Medicare portability to the Philippines. Consul General Mangibin emphasized the benefits of the initiative to both the Philippines and the people of Guam. He pointed out that, Guam residents can seek medical treatment in the Philippines, although patients have to pay the costs first and reimburse from Medicare later.
He added that if Medicare will allow direct payments to the Joint Commission accredited hospitals in the Philippines, Medicare will be able to spend its funds more wisely since the cost of medical treatment in the Philippines is cheaper. It will also enable Medicare to audit the hospitals, thereby preventing the possibility of fraud. The arrangement will redound to the benefit of Guam residents since they would no longer have to pay the costs of treatment out of their own pockets.
The village mayors expressed appreciation for the Consul General’s efforts to push for this initiative. In particular, Mayor Paul McDonald of Agaña Heights, expressed his support for this issue and stated that the Council may pass a Resolution in support of this advocacy.
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