Taguig offers free teleconsultation, health services to EMBO residents

THE city government of Taguig yesterday announced the provision of free teleconsultation and 24-hour services in “super health centers” to over 200,000 residents of 10 EMBO barangays whose eligibility to Makati City’s “yellow card” privileges were recently cut off as a aftermath of the Supreme Court decision transferring the said barangays to Taguig.

The barangays are Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Taguig said EMBO residents could avail of personal consultation of their health needs and concerns in 31 health centers and three supercenters which are open around-the-clock.

“Dahil biglang isinara ng Makati ang mga health centers sa mga EMBO barangays habang ayaw nitong i-turn over sa Taguig ang mga pasilidad na ito, pansamantalang magbibigay ng teleconsultations ang Taguig para sa mga residente ng EMBO barangays na pinagkaitan ng Makati ng mahahalagang serbisyong pangkalusugan (Due to the decision of Makati to suddenly close the health centers in the EMBO barangays, all the while refusing to turn over these facilities to Taguig, we will provide temporary teleconsultations for all residents of the EMBO barangays who were deprived by Makati of health services with its move),” the statement said.

Taguig said the teleconsultation hotlines will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.

“Ito ay magbibigay ng mga libreng medical check-up at referral, maging prescriptions at laboratory requests na libre ring makukuha ng mga residente (These will provide free medical check-up and referral, prescriptions and laboratory requests to affected residents),” it added.

Makati City on Tuesday announced that residents of the 10 EMBO barangay can no longer avail health benefits offered under its yellow card program, which provides for subsidized health care. It likewise said the license to operate of the health centers and lying-in clinics in the said barangays have also expired, thus, the need to close them as well.

In September last year, Taguig turned down an offer by Makati to establish a credit line to ensure that residents of