Aprubado na sa second reading sa House of Representatives ang House Bill (HB) 6772 na nagbibigay kapangyarihan kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na suspindihin ang pagtaas ng premium rates para sa mga “direct contributor” ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Ayon sa ulat ng Philippine News Agency, sinabi ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez, na isa sa mga nagsulong ng panukala, ang suspensyon ng pagtaas ng minimum monthly premium ay bawas sa pasakit sa mga empleyado ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor, mga propesyonal, self-employed, at iba pang mha PhilHealth contributor na nararanasan pa rin ang epekto ng pandemya.
“Suspending the imposition of the new PhilHealth premium rates will provide a much-needed relief during national emergencies or calamities and will assure Filipinos that the government is sensitive to their sentiments in this difficult time,” aniya.
Kasama rin sina Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, at Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre na may-akda ng panukala.
Ang HB 6772 ay may layuning amyendahan ang Republic Act 11223 o ang Universal Health Care Act kung saan magtataas ang rate ng kontribusyon ngayong taon nang 4.5 porsyento o P450 mula sa 4 porsyento o P400 na monthly premium.
Sa ilalim ng panukala, maaaring suspindihin ng pangulo, sa rekomendasyon ng PhilHealth Board, ang pagtaas ng premium rates sa gitna ng kalamidad o sakuna.
“The intent of the law is clear and cannot be overemphasized. Filipinos need and deserve a comprehensive set of health services that are cost-effective, high quality, and responsive to the requirements of all citizens,” ayon sa mga mambabatas.
“While PhilHealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members,” dagdag nila.
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