A senior member of the House of Representatives yesterday called on the Aquino administration to recall a decision by the Philhealth Corp. to make the cost of government health insurance restrictive to millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, a member of the House committee on health, revealed that an “unconscionable” hike in insurance premium will greet OFWs at the start of 2012.
He said a Philhealth Corp. directive provides that premium payments for health insurance covering OFW’s should further increase by mid-2012.
Under Circular No. 22-11 that was released 10 days before Christmas day, premium payments for OFWs will increase from P900 to P1,200 by January, 2012. The amount will double to P2,400 by mid-2012.
“Malacañang should stop Philhealth from playing Scrooge to the unsung heroes of Philippine economy. Circular No. 22-11 only serves as a spoiler to the Christmas spirit of generosity and selfless concern for others,” said Mendoza.
“The increase is both drastic and unjustified as doubling of fees collected by a government agency is unheard of in recent history.”
Mendoza, who heads the Nationalist People’s Coalition contingent in the Lower House, assailed the state-run health care agency for imposing the insurance premium adjustment without sufficient public consultation.
“If Philhealth should be true to its mandate to serve the people rather than act as a financial monster that it wants to be by nibbling even the morsels earned by our OFWs,” the Batangas solon stated.
Mendoza echoed the appeal of non-government organizations representing OFW’s for the scrapping of the Philhealth circular, saying that public hearings must or repeated if the state-run firm insists on pursuing its plan.
Pilhealth officials explained that imposing higher premiums has become necessary to pave the way for the implementation of performance targets, accomplish the Millennium Development and pursue a universal health care coverage for Filipinos.
“We cannot continue to be insensitive to the plight of the poor in these times when many are growing hungrier by the day and hundreds are dead and thousands were rendered homeless by the recent typhoon,” said Mendoza. –Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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