Related:
Moratorium on Corruption: A Challenge to PhilHealth
Reforming the MUP Pension System: A Position Paper of PMA Class of 1971 Inc.
Why? Soldiers and policemen, just like any government employee, are PhilHealth members whose contributions are automatically deducted from their monthly salaries.
That being said, our policy makers should rethink their position.
DOF’s explanation that Philhealth’s P500B “idle” fund (2021-2023) from government subsidy is not covered under the UHC law may be flawed. Even assuming without accepting their argument, the high-cost estimates to fully implement the UHC programs in 2023 and 2024 are P570B and P577B respectively, so how could they describe the same as “idle” when there are still budgetary gaps of P344.7B (2023) and P326.1B (2024).
Notwithstanding, under RA 11223, excess funds will be used to increase the benefits of members, not to be diverted to the Unprogrammed Fund to finance infra i.e. dredging, flood control and other social services.
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Quotes from interview on ‘Storycon’ (One News, Aug. 23, 2024):
On anomaly surrounding PhilHealth fund transfer:
“Ang pinaka-anomalya diyan ang sa PhilHealth. Sa 2024 budget lang lumabas, may special provisions, 3 special provision sa unprogrammed funds sinasabi doon kailangan may accompanying budget measure, tapos may approved foreign loans. At saka may available na pondo. Ang ginawa sa 2024 budget, nagdagdag ng special provision kung saan in-exempt, sinama ang GOCC na pwedeng i-realign ang budget. At isa pang special provision na dinagdag, pati foreign-assisted na pondo, pwede ring galawin. Ang illegal doon, napakaliwanag kasi GAA is a general law. Ang PhilHealth law, RA 7876 na-amend, meron tayong UHC act kung saan special law yan. Alam ng mambabatas di pwedeng i-amend ng general law ang special law. Bawal na bawal yan. At ang special law kaya ka nagbabalangkas sa special law, may mga provision sa batas na kailangan baguhin. Di talaga pupuwede. Ang anomalya di lang paglipat ng P20B at sinundan pa ng another P10B na pondo ng PhilHealth, sinasabi nga doon di nagamit. Merong absorptive capacity issue na involved na di magagamit ng PhilHealth kaya kailangan lipat sa Treasury. Mali yan kasi sabi ko nga, general law ang GAA at special law ang PhilHealth Act at amendment nito. So doon pa lang bawal na yan, illegal and unconstitutional.”
“Ang PhilHealth naman, naka-comingle doon ang contribution ng paying member at subsidy ng govt. Sabi nila sobra-sobra ang pondo ng PhilHealth kaya kailangan i-realign ang ibang pondo. Pero teka muna, kung sobrang pondo bakit tinaasan ang premium bakit ginawang 5%? At assuming sobrang taas ng pondo, pag tiningnan natin ang UHC Act kasi kami nagpasa niyan I think 2018-2019, hindi tayo makaalis, sa low end pa tayo, pinakamababang level. Dapat after 3 years nasa high end tayo kung saan lahat na brgy covered na. Ang requirement para mapunta sa high end, nasa P570B. So bakit sinasabi nilang sobra ng P500B e kung tutuusin kulang tayo para masustentuhan ang requirement para sa UHC.”
On the next step:
“Nasa Supreme Court na, nag-file ng petition ang Philippine Medical Association. Supreme Court na bahala maghusga kung pwede ba o hindi. Sa aking pananaw nagtanong ako sa abogado. Napakasimple ng usapin. General law na pina-amend sa special law, di pwede. Bawal na bawal yan.”
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