PBBM asked to restore Philhealth subsidy and not be a Scrooge

 

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. to restore the subsidy for Philhealth and the budget cut for other social services. “President Marcos, Jr., do you hear the people’s demand? Restore the Philhealth subsidy and social services budget as a Christmas gift to workers and the people. Do not be a Scrooge by affirming the flawed 2025 budget,” stated Judy Miranda, PM secretary general.

 

Miranda criticized President Marcos, Jr.’s recent pronouncement that no Philhealth benefits will be affected even if there is no subsidy in the 2025 budget. She explained that “President Marcos Jr. is missing the point. The demand of Philhealth members and beneficiaries is the significant improvement of benefits and services. In 2025, we hope to see a 50% increase in Philhealth coverage—as was discussed in the budget deliberations and promised by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.”

 

President Marcos, Jr. has postponed the scheduled signing today of the 2025 national budget. Aside from the zero subsidy for Philhealth, several departments like DSWD, DepEd and DOLE suffered reductions in the bicameral conference committee version of the budget.

 

PM was among the coalition of labor groups, health workers and medical advocates that held a protest last Wednesday and asked for the restoration of the Philhealth subsidy in the 2025 national budget. Members of the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan assembled at Morayta before marching to Mendiola to call on President Marcos, Jr. to veto the budget and reform the Philhealth.

 

PM is also calling on the President to axe Secretary Herbosa and the Philhealth board for their failure to make good on their promises as well as for their inefficiency that has become an alibi by solon for the zero subsidy.

 

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. 

Press Release

December 20, 2024

 

Clemency for Mary Jane Veloso is a fitting Xmas gift to a bagong bayani

 

File photo of rally in support of Mary Jane Veloso 

The labor group Partido Manggagawa added its voice to the call for clemency for migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso. “Clemency for Mary Jane Veloso is a fitting Xmas gift to a bagong bayani,” stated Judy Miranda, Partido Manggagawa (PM) secretary general.

 

Veloso has asked President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. to grant her clemency after she was detained at the Women’s Correctional facility upon her return to the Philippines. She was released by the Indonesian government after lengthy negotiations and a long-running campaign to spare her the death penalty in Indonesia.

 

“Aside from Mary Jane, we also ask that elderly and sickly political detainees be granted clemency on humanitarian grounds. They all deserve to spend the holiday season with their families in their homes,” Miranda explained.

 

PM has been involved in campaigns for the freedom of political detainees in the country as well as Veloso since she was convicted and sentenced to die in an Indonesia court.

 

Miranda added that “Mary Jane is a symbol for all the hardships endured by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). If we truly believe that migrant workers are bagong bayani then we should extend every assistance to OFWs facing difficulties. Heroes do not have to be dead to be honored.” 

Press Release

December 19, 2024

Workers and allied groups rally to demand restoration of Philhealth subsidy

A newly formed coalition of labor groups, health workers and medical advocates asked for the restoration of the Philhealth subsidy in the 2025 national budget. Members of the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan assembled this morning at Morayta before marching to Mendiola to call on President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. to veto the budget and reform the Philhealth.

 

“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 is demanding a “veto, restore and reform”: Veto the bicam version of the GAA; Restore the subsidy for Philhealth; Reform the system through the resignation of Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and a revamp of the Philhealth board. Aside from the restoration of the Philhealth subsidy, PM is also asking for the removal of confidential funds not just for OVP of Sara Duterte but for all other agencies including the OP.

 

PM slammed the Congressional bicameral conference committee 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. 

Press Release

December 18, 2024

Advisory: Mendiola rally this morning to demand restoration of Philhealth subsidy

 Media Advisory

December 18, 2024

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Judy Miranda @ 09175570777, 09228677222

 

Mendiola rally this morning to demand restoration of Philhealth subsidy

 

WHAT: Rally by the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan, a coalition of labor groups, health workers and medical advocates

 

WHEN: Today, December 18

 

WHERE: Assembly at Morayta: 8:00 am

               March to Mendiola: 9:30 am

 

DEMANDS: VETO the BUDGET!

        RESTORE BUDGET FOR all SOCIAL SERVICES!

        REFORM PHILHEALTH!

Mendiola rally tomorrow by Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan

Media Advisory

December 17, 2024

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Judy Miranda @ 09175570777, 09228677222

Mendiola rally tomorrow by Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan 

WHAT: Rally of coalition of labor groups, health workers and medical advocates

 

WHEN: Tomorrow, December 18

 

WHERE: Assembly at Morayta: 8:00 am

               March to Mendiola: 9:30 am

 

DEMANDS: VETO the BUDGET!

        RESTORE BUDGET FOR all SOCIAL SERVICES!

        REFORM PHILHEALTH!