Amidst the economic impact of the pandemic on ordinary citizens, Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Bong Go, has expressed his support for suspending the increase in premiums of direct contributors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. However, he urged the government to make sure that the health care services provided to Filipinos are not jeopardized.
During a Senate Committee on Health hearing on the Universal Health Care law and PhilHealth premium on Wednesday, 1 February, Go remarked that for average Filipinos, every peso counts and that their and their family’s survival is currently the top priority in light of global and national economic challenges.
“Sa mga ordinaryong mamamayang araw-araw na nakikipagsapalaran, ano ba ang mas mahalaga sa kanila? Ang dagdag na kontribusyon o yung mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya?” said Go.
“Kaya naman po tayo, bilang mga representante ng mga mamamayang Pilipino, obligasyon po nating makinig sa kanilang hinaing, ang magmalakasakit sa kanila, at gawin ang lahat maibsan lang ang bigat na kanilang dinadala sa araw araw. In this time, every single peso counts,” he stressed.
Moreover, given the economic effects of the pandemic, Go said it is only reasonable to suspend the premium hike.
Go also lamented the hardships experienced by Overseas Filipino Workers, especially during the pandemic.
“Karamihan po ng mga OFWs natin, umaasa ng dagdag na tulong mula sa gobyerno lalo na ‘yung mga nawalan ng trabaho o naapektuhan ang kanilang kabuhayan sa ibang bansa dahil sa pandemya,” Go said.
He continued, “In fact, namigay nga po ng tulong yung DOLE sa mga panahon na yun. Hindi naman po tama na sa panahong walang-wala sila, doon pa natin sila sisingilin ng dagdag na kontribusyon.”
It is for these reasons, said Go, that he is also endorsing proposed bills granting the President of the Philippines the authority to suspend the scheduled increase in PhilHealth premium contribution rates specifically in times of a state of national emergency, national calamity, or public health emergency.