The
labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed the Congressional bicameral
conference committee for not allocating any subsidy for Philhealth in the 2025
national budget. “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!,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair
and Marikina city councilor.
However,
the group added this is also partly the fault of Department of Health (DoH)
Secretary Teodoro 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!,” stated Magtubo.
Philhealth
announced a package of additional benefits for members last week. However, PM
asserted that this falls short of the promised improved benefits that the DoH
and Philhealth committed to during budget deliberations in Congress.
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.
PM’s
call for Herbosa’s resignation follows the earlier demand of Agri partylist
Representative Wilbert Lee. Magtubo averred that “A new DoH Secretary who is
sincere in serving the people and delivers on promises would be a good
Christmas gift to workers who deserve good governance and quality health
services.”
Herbosa
has also been criticized by other solons for lack of vaccines or expired ones
in the DoH inventory. Last week the Commission on Audit flagged the DoH for P11
billion worth of vaccines, medicines and medical supplies which cannot be used
anymore since they are past expiration dates.
“The
wanton waste of people’s money is criminal. Resigning is the honorable thing to
do. In other cultures, public officials even commit hara-kiri. But we don’t
demand that. We only ask for better Health Secretaries who can do their jobs,”
Magtubo explained.
Press Release
December 13, 2024
