HONG KONG, SAR – Makabayan senatorial bet Teddy Casiño today supported calls of overeas Filipino workers (OFWs) to junk the planned PhilHealth premium increase.
“Hindi makatarungan ang premium increase. Napakataas na nga ng mga kasalukuyang bayarin ng ating mga OFWs papatawan pa ng dagdag bayad sa PhilHealth,” said Casiño, during a forum with Filipino migrants in Hong Kong.
In 2011, OFWs paid only P900 for annual premium to PhilHealth. The amount was to be increased by almost 170% to P2,400 effective July 2012 through PhilHealth Resolution No. 22 s. 2011. Due to massive protests by Filipinos including the OFWs under Migrante International, Philhealth Resolution No. 57 s. 2012 deferred the implementation to January 2014. OFWs presently pay the increased fee of P1,200 annual premium subtly inserted in Resolution No 22 s. 2011.
“Parang ginagatasan ang ating mga OFWs sa mga excessive and increasing fees na sinisingil ng gubyerno kagaya nitong PhilHealth premium hike. Pero hindi naman ito nata-translate sa mabuting suportang serbisyo para sa mga OFWs o maging sa kanilang mga pamilya. Taasan man ang premium ng Philhealth, hindi pa rin garantiya na makaka-avail ng sapat, de-kalidad at abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan ang ating mga pamilya dahil kasabay nito pinipribatisa ang pubic health services sa anyo ng corporatization at public-private partnerships (PPPs),” Casiño said.
Casiño’s legislative agenda for the Senate include the protection of the rights of Filipino migrant workers and creation of local opportunities for migrant workers by developing national industries that will in turn generate jobs with adequate wages.
The progressive solon opposed hospital corporatization bills in Congress and consistently pushed for higher health budget. He filed several measures in the House of Representatives for the rights and welfare of OFWs including House Bill 5331 providing for financial assistance for distressed OFWs and House Resolution 468 investigating the reported excessive collection of processing fees, contributions and other payments from OFWs, by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.