THE city government of Makati has cancelled the health benefits under its “yellow card” program enjoyed by residents of the 10 EMBO barangays transferred to Taguig City as a result of the Supreme Court decision settling the territorial dispute between the two towns.
An estimated 200,000 residents in the said barangays will be affected by the move.
The Makati City government made the announcement on its Facebook page late Monday even as it clarified that its employees who are living in the affected barangays will continue to enjoy their health privileges.
“Alinsunod sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema, ikinalulungkot naming ipaalam sa inyo na simula January 1, 2024, wala nang bisa ang yellow card na may address sa 10 EMBO barangays maliban kung sila ay mga empleyado ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Makati (Pursuant to the decision of the Supreme Court, we are saddened to announce that starting January 1, 2024, yellow cards addressed in the 10 EMBO barangays will no longer be valid, unless if they are employees of the city government of Makati),” the city government said.
The yellow card provides Makati residents with free medicine and vitamins, as well as free hospitalization at the city-operated Ospital ng Makati for bills of up to P5,000, while those with hospital bills exceeding P5,000 are only charged a uniform rate of P500 even if the amount reaches six or seven digits.
Beneficiaries and their dependents can also avail of specialized medical and diagnostic services at the Makati Medical Center and Makati Life Medical Center, which are health partners of the city government.
The city government also said the license to operate of health centers and lying-in clinics in the EMBO barangays have also expired, thus, the need to close them as well.
In a subsequent advisory posted Tuesday, Makati also announced that the BLU cards issued to senior citizens in the said barangays are also no longer valid.
Under the BLU card program, senior citizens aged 60 to 69 are eligible to receive P3,000 distributed in two equal tranches in June and December. Those aged 70 to 79 receive P4,000, while those between 80 and 89 years old receive P5,000 each year.
“Gayunpaman, maaari pa ring gamitin ng mga seniors ang kanilang Makatizen card bilang isang valid ID at debit card (However, they can still use their Makatizen card as a valid ID and debit card),” the city government added.
In September this year, the Taguig City government turned down an offer by Makati to establish a credit line to ensure that residents of the EMBO barangays would continue to have access to health care benefits, health centers and the Ospital ng Makati.
It said that Taguig city has its own health care program that provides, among others, free dialysis sessions and medicines for indigent and senior citizens.
It has also “super health centers” that provides free diagnostic services to its residents.
Taguig has also partnered with St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City to extend medical services to its residents.
To recall, the SC’s Third Division issued a statement in April 2023 that it will no longer entertain any pleadings, motions, letters or other communications in connection with the territorial dispute between Makati and Taguig as an entry of judgment was already issued after it affirmed with finality last September 28, 2022 its December 1, 2021 declaring that the contested land is part of the territory of Taguig City.
The assailed 2021 decision permanently barred Makati City from exercising jurisdiction over, making improvements on, or otherwise treating as part of its territory, Parcels 3 and 4, comprising Fort Bonifacio, including the so-called Inner Fort comprising of Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo.
The Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines’ headquarters, consular area, Jusmag area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and the so-called six villages are situated in the said areas.
In October last year, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay asked the Taguig City Regional Trial Court to issue a status quo ante order against the Taguig City government due to the latter’s alleged unilateral attempts to implement the SC’ decision on the 10 EMBO barangays without first securing a writ of execution.
