In
a protest at a Philhealth branch office today, workers decried the zero subsidy
for Philhealth in the national budget that was signed by President Bong Bong
Marcos, Jr. last December 30. Dozens of members of the Nagkaisa labor coalition
picketed the Philhealth branch at Mother Ignacia, Quezon City and called for
the resignation of the board of the public health insurance body.
“In
the 2025 national budget, there is zero subsidy for Philhealth but full subsidy
for trapos in the form of AKAP, AICS, TUPAD and confidential funds,” stated
Judy Miranda, Partido Manggagawa (PM) secretary general, which was among the
groups that participated in the protest.
PM
called on workers and the poor to continue to press for the restoration of the
Philhealth subsidy because this may be repeated next year if the Marcos Jr.
administration does not see any outrage from citizens. “Senior citizens, poor
mothers and indigent Filipinos who are supposed to be covered by Philhealth as
per the Universal Health Care Act stand to lose their benefits due to the zero subsidy,”
Miranda explained.
PM
slammed both the executive and the legislative for not allocating any subsidy
for Philhealth. “It is the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte
and all other officials that must be taken out, not support for health
insurance of workers and the people. Zero subsidy for Philhealth, NO! Zero budget
for confidential funds, YES!,” asserted Miranda.
However,
the group added this is also partly the fault of Secretary Herbosa. PM called
for the resignation of Herbosa for his failure to make good on commitments to
improve Philhealth benefits for its members, many of whom are workers. “Sectary
Herbosa should step down since he cannot do his job and make good on his
promises. He committed to increasing by 50% across-the-board hike in Philhealth
benefits which has not materialized. Philhealth has excess funds since it is
scrimping on benefits. Herbosa, Alis dyan!,” Miranda asked.
PM’s demand for Herbosa’s resignation is part of the group’s advocacy for quality public services. PM earlier joined the Nagkaisa labor coalition in filing as intervenor in the Supreme Court case to oppose the transfer of P90 billion of Philhealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury. The group has also been demanding public laundromats and whole day childcare centers to ease the burdens of employed and unemployed women.
Photos of the protest today can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid02yrYgp8jD5bUoRBMDCX5HKcVUAM1d1Kva6BJcpve2o7mhh2vnwd81dtP2nGgiJEPml
Press Release
January 15, 2024
