MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) to review the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law.
Hontiveros, one of the authors of the UHC Law, issued the call after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PhilHealth to make premium payments for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) voluntary.
“PhilHealth and DOH should immediately reassess and amend the IRR in close consultation with OFWs,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“Kailangan maging sensitibo ang pag-implement ng batas sa hinaing ng mga OFWs ngayong may COVID-19 pandemic,” she added, noting the economic hardships inflicted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
(We need to be sensitive on how we implement the law with regards to the grievances of OFWs amid the COVID-19 pandemic).
PhilHealth earlier issued a circular increasing the premium contribution of OFWs whose monthly income is between P10,000 to P60,000 to 3 percent from a previous rate of 2.75 percent.
The monthly premium will also increase by 0.5 percent every year afterward until it reaches 5 percent in 2024.
This, however, earned widespread opposition from Filipino migrant workers.
Hontiveros said PhilHealth and DOH should conduct consultations with OFWs, who she pointed out are some of the most vulnerable sectors affected by the global pandemic.
“Dapat magkaroon ng sapat na konsultasyon sa kanila. Dapat may kinatawan sa bawat uri ng overseas work kasi hindi naman pare-pareho ang sitwasyon nila. At dapat isama sila sa pag-dedesisyon ng panukalang ito,” she said.
(There is a need to have consultations with them. There should be a representative for each kind of overseas works because their situation varies. OFWs should be included in decisions concerning this law)
Hontiveros also called for the convening of the oversight committee on the Universal Healthcare Law.
“We should be grateful for the concerns aired by our OFWs,” she said, adding that Congress has an oversight function over the implementation of the law.
“This should not stop us from pursuing better implementation of this landmark law. These are birth pains that need to be addressed to benefit everybody,” she added.
Hontiveros also called for a review of the current benefits package and delivery provided by PhilHealth, especially to OFWs.
“We cannot abandon universal healthcare. It is an essential piece of legislation that, at the end of the day, if implemented properly, will provide healthcare to all Filipinos,” she said.
The principle behind the UHC Law, the senator pointed out, is to help millions of Filipinos in the long term.
“But its implementation should be reviewed properly for the benefit of all concerned,” she added.