The appeal of Filipino Overseas Workers to remove PhilHealth's mandatory 3% premium payment from their salary was finally heard. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the state-owned health insurance to suspend the collection of higher premiums to the OFWs.
OFWs will no longer be required to pay premiums to PhilHealth for securing of their overseas employment certificate, this was stated by Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque during a virtual press conference on May 4.
“Inatasan na po ng Presidente ang POEA at ang OWWA na huwag nang gawing requirement ang pagbayad ng PhilHealth para makuha ‘yung Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). So hindi na po kayo hostage,” the presidential spokesperson said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced the suspension of a provision in the implementing rules and regulations on the mandatory increase in premium payments for OFWs.
I call for the suspension of Section 10.2.C of the IRR of the UHC Law in light of COVID-19 and its economic impact on OFWs. We will recommend this to Philhealth for their action. Meanwhile, we will reach out again to our stakeholders on this. pic.twitter.com/VudhaLlPCI— Francisco T. Duque III (@SecDuque) May 4, 2020
“Sa ngayon po, habang mayroon tayong krisis ang naging desisyon ng Presidente huwag na muna tayo magpataw ng karagdagang pahirap sa ating mga OFWs. Lalong lalo nga sa panahong napakadami sa kanila ang nare-repatriate at nawawalan ng trabaho,” Secretary Roque said.
“Whether or not tataas po ‘yan, realidad po na ang isang insurance system ay kinakailangan nakabase po sa actuarial science. Ang linilinaw ko lamang po, unang-una ang pagtaas po ay hindi 3 percent, it’s only .25 percent [from 2.75 percent],” he explained.
The group named OFWs that started a petition on Change.org entitled, "Remove Philhealth Mandatory 3% Premium Payment from OFW's salary" has already gained over 338,000 petitioners.
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