OVER 225M IN AID: OZAMIZ's FREE HEALTHCARE, FUNERAL PROGRAM BENEFITS

via Bhal Abad Cabrera | May 16, 2025

OZAMIZ CITY, Philippines — Ozamiz City Mayor and Asenso Pinoy Partylist 1st nominee Atty. Indy Oaminal highlighted the continued success of the Asenso Ozamiz Free Hospitalization and Free Funeral Services Program in a post on his official social media page, emphasizing the thousands of families who have benefitted from the city’s flagship social assistance initiative.

“Daghan gihapon ang natabangan,” Oaminal wrote, as he reported that for April 2025 alone, the two programs covered the medical and funeral bills of 296 beneficiaries, amounting to P7,789,050.38.

Since the program was launched in July 2022, a total of 10,186 families have been assisted, with P225,494,091.27 worth of aid released. According to Oaminal, these amounts came solely from the city government funds and were paid directly to mostly private hospitals and funeral parlors.

The mayor also pointed out that the figures exclude additional medical and funeral assistance provided by the Province of Misamis Occidental, under Governor Henry S. Oaminal, and the efforts of Congressman Ando Oaminal.

“Lisod daw mangayo ug tabang diri sa Mis Occ, pero I think these numbers belie that claim,” Oaminal said, addressing criticisms about the accessibility of aid in the province.

He acknowledged that the city imposes strict documentation requirements, saying, “Government funds gud ni, so need masigurado nga mabayad gyud sa bill.” However, Atty. Indy Oaminal was confident that while some may have been unable to avail due to lack of documents, “libo-libo pud ang naka-avail na.”

Atty. Indy Oaminal’s post comes as he ramps up his role as Asenso Pinoy Partylist 1st nominee, bringing the local governance model of Ozamiz City onto the national stage, focusing on pro-poor programs and social welfare initiatives.

The Asenso Ozamiz Free Hospitalization and Free Funeral Services Program has been hailed as a key pillar of the Padayon Asenso Ozamiz agenda, which aims to improve healthcare access and ease the financial burden on families during times of medical crisis or bereavement.