Cong. Carlo “Sandro” Gonzalez Presses PhilHealth to Set Aside Plans of Making Contributions Mandatory for OFWs

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Cong. Carlo Sandro Gonzalez Presses PhilHealth
to Set Aside Plans of Making Contributions
Mandatory for OFWs
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Solon presses PhilHealth to set aside plans of
making contributions mandatory for OFWs Amid the
controversies hounding the executives of the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth), MARINO Party-list first
representative Sandro Gonzalez nudged the agency
to shelve its plans of making the contribution
for health coverage mandatory among Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs), including seafarers. In
April this year, the beleaguered PhilHealth drew
flak from OFWs after it announced, through
Circular 2020-0014, that by virtue of their
overseas employment, OFWs should fall under the
tiered premium hike of PhilHealth.
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With the exposè on corruption within the agency
by its former anti-fraud officer, Gonzalez called
on PhilHealth officials to fix its internal
problems before imposing additional burdens on
OFWs. It is prudent for PhilHealth officials to
look seriously into this matter because the money
they have allegedly embezzled comes from the hard
work of every Filipino contributor. This issue
takes on greater significance, especially that
months ago in a time of crisis, PhilHealth
proposed to impose a hike on OFWs health
contribution, Gonzalez said.
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PhilHealth has been saying their reserves have
been dwindling due to the governments response
to COVID-19. However, the revelation about
fraudulent activities proves otherwise. There is
money in the agency, but it goes to the pockets
of some unscrupulous officials, Gonzalez
added. The hike proposal of PhilHealth will
affect millions of OFWs, including around 400,000
seafarers, which Gonzalez represents in the House
of Representatives.
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Many of our constituents voiced their
apprehension toward this proposal. They said they
will not benefit from the PhilHealth coverage
since they are employed overseas. Additionally,
with the current scandal the agency faces, their
contribution might be used to line the pockets of
corrupt officials, Gonzalez averred. Meanwhile,
Gonzalez backed the call of PhilHealth employees
to appoint a caretaker who will take over the
helm of the agency at this critical time.
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We have many decent PhilHealth employees. We
need someone with unsullied integrity and proven
ability to shepherd them and to oversee the
agency as congressional probes are in place. This
person will boost the moral of the employees, who
have received misplaced anger from contributors
since the disclosure on corruption allegations,
Gonzalez said.