THE LINGAP Para sa Mahirap Assistance online has catered to a total of 7,835 clients for 2022.
The Lingap Program is an initiative of the Davao City Government to provide medical, laboratory, funeral, and hospital bill assistance to Davao City residents.
For its online services, the program catered to 6,461 clients. Meanwhile, the city also assisted 1,374 clients in private hospitals, as well as for funerals and dialysis assistance.
“A total of 7,835 nga mga kliyente atong natabangan sa kaning online Lingap pa lang. Lahi paning sa mga walk-ins (We have helped a total of 7,835 clients and it is only for the online, the walk-in is separate),” Head of Lingap Para sa Mahirap Patrick Celis said in an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday.
Celis said that the online platform really helped their office decongest and shorter queues were noticed for those who seek assistance.
For walk-in clients, they have more or less 500 clients per day at the main Lingap Para sa Mahirap SPMC and four satellite offices located in Marilog District, Bunawan District, Toril District, and Paquibato District.
“Mas daghan daghan pag clients nga walk-in gina endorse nato sa online ang uban ginatudluan nato sila unsaon pag-avail through online kung unsaon ang processing sa online. Tuod man sa online Lingap mas mapaspas sila, ang himuon lang nila ani picturan nila ang requirements and i-send nila sa atong online Lingap kay naa man tay social worker nga naga-atang dira para mutubag sa ilahang pangutana (There are still many walk-in clients and we endorse them online and we teach them how to avail of and how to process online. Indeed, through the online Lingap the process is faster. What they only need to do is to capture their requirements and send them to the Online Lingap because we have social workers on standby to cater to those who have queries),” Celis said, adding that the clients are also given flyers for walk-ins, and the same is distributed during barangay caravans.
Celis said that for January 2023 they intend to open another satellite office in Calinan District.
The construction of the office is almost done and they have already hired personnel and trained encoders to welcome clients.
“Ongoing ang ilang training diri sa main office nato para sila ang mu-welcome sa atong mga kliyente sa Calinan area (Their training is ongoing at the main office so that they will be the one who will welcome clients in Calinan),” Celis said.
Celis added that Lingap Calinan will help those who cannot go to the Marilog Lingap satellite office as it is 30 minutes away.
Among innovations targeted in 2023 are the upgrading of the system for faster processing of Lingap and the creation of the Pharmacy online canvassing system to easily check available medicine in Lingap partner pharmacies. This way, clients do not have to go to pharmacies to check the availability of medicines.
“Ginapaningkamutan gyud nato nga mas mapapaspas ang pagserbisyo nato sa kliyente sa Lingap through digitalization (We are doing our best to provide efficient service to our clients through digitalization),” Celis said.
They are also eyeing two additional offices, and it is still under discussion because they will still carefully study areas that need to have a satellite office.
Dabawenyos may visit https://www.facebook.com/lingapparasamahirap or contact 0909 547 4763, 233-4961 for the Main Office.
The main office of Lingap is located on SPMC Compound, Malasakit Center Building, J.P Laurel Avenue, Bajada Davao City. The office hours of the main office for private hospital assistance is 8 am- 11 pm; for SPMC outpatient: 8 am- 3 pm and for inpatient 24 hours.
People may also visit the nearest satellite offices in Lingap Marilog District located at Marilog District Hospital, Lower Kibalang, Barangay Marilog Proper; Lingap Bunawan District located at Bunawan District Hall Compound, Barangay Bunawan Proper; Lingap Toril located at Rasay St, Toril Proper; and Lingap Paquibato located at Paquibato Barangay Hall.
“Kung asa man mo pinaka-duol nga barangay or unsa ang pinakaduol nga satellite office pwede ninyo duolan, adto lang mo kay naa tay social workers nga mu-guide sa inyuha ug mutabang og unsaon pagkuha sa assistance diha sa Lingap (Whichever the nearest barangay or nearest satellite office is, you are welcome there because we have social workers who will guide you and help you get assistance from Lingap),” Celis said.
