The Cebu Provincial Government has partnered with 11 private hospitals and two pharmacies to make medical and other emergency assistance faster and more accessible to Cebuanos through the province’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro formalized the partnerships on Friday, August 14, as part of the provincial government’s efforts to improve the delivery of assistance to residents facing medical, financial and other emergencies.

The initiative seeks to reduce processing time and make it easier for qualified beneficiaries to access immediate support, particularly those needing help with hospitalization and medical expenses.

“This is the direction we are pursuing: better service, more efficient processing, and faster assistance for Cebuanos in crisis,” said Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan.

Catalan has been tasked by Gov. Baricuatro to oversee the health reforms being implemented by her administration.

Assistance for Cebuanos in crisis

The Capitol’s AICS program provides temporary assistance to underprivileged residents of Cebu who are experiencing various forms of crisis.

Among the assistance covered by the program are hospitalization and medical expenses, burial and transportation costs, education needs, food assistance, and psychosocial support.

The program is administered by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

The provincial AICS is separate from the nationally funded AICS program administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Through the new partnerships, beneficiaries needing medical assistance will have additional avenues to access support while the provincial government works with participating healthcare providers to make the process more efficient.

11 hospitals, two pharmacies join program

The provincial government’s hospital partners are:

• AppleOne-Visayas Medical Center
• St. Vincent General Hospital Cebu Inc.
• University of Cebu Medical Center Inc.
• Mendero Medical Center Inc.
• Mactan Doctors Hospital
• Deiparine Community Hospital
• Cebu Velez General Hospital
• Cebu North General Hospital
• Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital Inc.
• Chong Hua Hospital Main and Mandaue
• Cebu South General Hospital

Two pharmacies have also joined the partnership:

• 24 Aid Medical Corp.
• Bing Pharmacy

The partnerships are expected to help beneficiaries obtain needed medical services and medicines while reducing delays associated with traditional assistance processing.

Digital verification to speed up assistance

Aside from expanding its network of partner healthcare providers, the provincial government is also streamlining the AICS process from the filing of requests to the release of assistance.

The Capitol is introducing digital verification measures as part of the effort to shorten processing time and improve the overall delivery of services.

The move is consistent with Gov. Baricuatro’s push to make government assistance more responsive and accessible, particularly for residents who need immediate support during emergencies.

By working directly with hospitals and pharmacies, the provincial government aims to create a more coordinated system where qualified beneficiaries can receive assistance more efficiently.

The initiative also strengthens the role of partnerships between government and the private healthcare sector in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities.

For Cebuanos facing medical emergencies and other difficult circumstances, the provincial government said the improved AICS system is intended to make assistance easier to access and faster to receive.