Ejercito aiming to have Universal Health Bill passed in September

Sen. JV Ejercito (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito on Saturday said he was aiming for the passage of the Universal Health Bill in the Senate in September this year.

Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said the Senate Bill No. 1458 would largely benefit Filipinos as President Rodrigo Duterte had already tagged it as “urgent.”

READ: Duterte certifies as urgent the Universal Health Care bill

“Ang target ko ay ngayong September. Actually, sa Lunes irerender ko na yung committee report,” the senator said in an interview at AM radio station dwIZ.

(My target is this September. Actually, I will render the committee report on Monday.)

If the bill would not get approved in September, he said it could be done not later than October.

The House of Representatives passed the bill in September 2017. Its counterpart, however, remained pending in the Senate due to funding issues, according to Ejercito.

“Nanigurado tayo sa Senado na kung ipapasa man natin ito, siguradong may pagkukunan tayo ng pondo,” he said.

(We in Senate are trying to make sure that, if we do pass it, there will be a source of funds.)

Under the bill, Filipinos will enjoy universal health care coverage and benefits from the National Health Security Program, replacing the National Health Insurance Program or PhilHealth. /atm