OFWs holding global protest vs. planned hike in PhilHealth premiums

Some overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are holding from July 20 to 25 a global "web protest" against the planned increase in PhilHealth premiums. Dubbed “Global Webwide Protest to Stop PhilHealth Increase,” the move aims to stop the proposed 150 percent increase in health premiums for OFWs — from P900 to P2400 per person. According to a news release on the OFW site Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA), Philhealth premiums for all members, including OFWs, increased from P900 to P1,200 in January this year. PhilHealth this month postponed to January 2013 plans for another increase for OFWs — from P1,200 to P2,400. PEBA said OFWs want the planned hike stopped until further discussion. “OFWs globally plead to stop and immediately implement a moratorium on imposing the increase until a comprehensive and genuine consultation with most OFWs and other stakeholders have been conducted,” PEBA said. A direct violation PEBA is a non-profit organization of international Filipino Bloggers founded by Jebee Kenji Solis, based in Jeddah. Originally, PEBA was an awarding body recognizing outstanding OFWs. However, it has now expanded its services to provide assistance to distressed OFWs. The group is staging the protesting via its Facebook and Twitter accounts, along with OFWs who are against Circular 22 which approves the increase recently issued by the Philhealth Board. PEBA also cited a law to point out that the increase is a violation. “The said increase is a direct violation of RA 10022, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 that “prohibits increase in government fees for services rendered to OFWs and their dependents,” said PEBA. On the other hand, the Twitter community has shared its insights on the matter: arnel abad: “@teamphilhealth OFW SAY NO TO Philhealth PREMIUM INCREASE MAKE IT OPTIONAL” ROLS: “STOP THE PHILHEALTH PREMIUM INCREASE, YE SFOR OPTIONAL for OFWS!” Mr. Apol E. Apuntar: “Stop the Philhealth Premium Increase!” A fairly small investment Meanwhile, in an interview with GMA News Online, Greg Rulloda, Vice President for the Philhealth Corporate Affairs Group said they are studying the best plan of action about the planned increase. “Hindi na matutuloy yung Circular 22 this July kasi pinag-aaralan namin mapaganda lalo ang programa,” Rulloda said. “Wag dapat mag-alala ang mga OFW sa Php 2,400 na isinusulong ng Philhealth dahil gagawan namin ng paraan yan para hindi isang bagsakan upang hindi mabigat sa bulsa,” he added. Rulloda cited some of the benefits that will be improved: Free consultation In patient benefits Diagnostic services Laboratory services Animal bite package Primary health care benefits Z benefits (cancers) – leukemia, breast, prostate He also stated that the Php 1,200 a year or even the Php 2,400 a year is a fair amount in exchange of the benefits the Philhealth extends not only to OFWs but their families. “We are building up our capacity to provide greater value for your money. We are also enriching benefits and enhancing our services,” he said. “Whether it’s Php 3.50 or Php 7.00 a day is a fairly small investment that can guarantee OFWs ample relief on any event of ailment,” he added. - VVP, GMA News

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

POPCOM, gagamit ng ‘digital platforms’ para pagtibayin ang mga ugnayang pampamilya

Mas pinalalawig ng Komisyon sa Populasyon at Pagpapaunlad (POPCOM) ang adhikain nitong pagpapalaganap at pagpapabuti ng pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga nakakatandang Pilipino sa kanilang mga anak na nagdadalaga at nagbibinata. Nitong Setyembre 21, ang POPCOM ay nagsagawa ng isang “parent-teen talk webinar” gamit ang Zoom, kung saan ang isang “interactive program” ang nagbigay ng naaayon na kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga magulang, habang tumulong ito sa mga anak na teenager na maabot ang kanilang buong potensyal. Hinikayat din nito ang mga nanay at tatay na sumali sa malayang usapan, lalo na sa mga usapin ukol sa sex at sekswalidad, na nakikitang makakatulong upang bumaba ang mga bilang ng mga pagbubuntis sa hanay ng mga kabataan. Maaaring mapanood ang webinar sa https://youtu.be/lZ9jrJCjYas. Ayon kay Ikalawang Kalihim (Undersecretary) Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH, “ang webinar ay naging isang tagapag-simula at ‘padaluyan’ ng pag-uu
Read more

Biden said set to make push for demilitarized Palestinian state as part of new doctrine ---By LAZAR BERMAN

New York Times’ Thomas Friedman, who’s close to the US administration, says emerging doctrine would include Saudi-Israeli normalization, 2-state solution, and campaign against Iran US President Joe Biden’s administration is homing in on a new doctrine involving an unprecedented push to immediately advance the creation of a demilitarized but viable Palestinian state, The New York Times’ Thomas Friedman reported on Thursday. The plan, Friedman wrote, “would involve some form of US recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would come into being only once Palestinians had developed a set of defined, credible institutions and security capabilities to ensure that this state was viable and that it could never threaten Israel.” White House officials “have been consulting experts inside and outside the US government about different forms this recognition of Palestinian statehood might take,” revealed Friedman. What he termed the new “Biden Doctrin
Read more

In Cairo, senior Hamas officials discuss hostage deal with Egyptian intelligence chief ---By TOI STAFF, AGENCIES and LAZAR BERMAN

Delegation said led by terror group’s Qatar-based political leader Ismail Haniyeh; Wall Street Journal reports Hamas demanding 150 security prisoners for each female soldier A delegation of senior Hamas officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian officials on a possible deal that would see the release of hostages held by terrorists in Gaza. The delegation was led by Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in Qatar, and included senior members Mousa Abu Marzook and Khalil al-Hayya, the Qatar-based Al-Araby news outlet reported, citing an unnamed Egyptian source. The Hamas officials met with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel, to discuss the details of a hostage deal proposal that was presented to the Gaza terror group earlier this week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The outline of the deal was drawn up during a meeting in Paris last week in the presence of Israeli and US officials, as well as Qatari and Egyptian negotiators, a
Read more