IRR sa pangongolekta ng PhilHealth premium sa OFW ipinatatanggal

DAPAT umanong palitan ang Implementing Rules and Regulations ng Universal Health Care law upang matiyak na hindi na magiging mandatory requirement sa aalis na overseas Filipino workers ang pagbabayad ng PhilHealth premiums.

Nagpasalamat din si ACTS-OFW partylist chairman John Bertiz sa pagsuspendi ni Pangulong Duterte sa pagtataas sa tatlong porsyento ng 2.75 porsyentong buwanang premium contribution ng mga OFW.

“We also support his directive to make contribution voluntary for all OFWs. Ganun din naman panawagan natin nuon pa na suspendihin ang rate hike ng PhilHealth premium charges for OFWs,” ani Bertiz.

Ayon sa IRR ang isang OFW ay bibigyan lamang ng overseas employment certificate kung bayad ang PhilHealth premium.

“Again, we reiterate our incessant call to extend health, social and economic assistance to our OFWs and their families, especially because we are entering into an economic downturn not only here but also elsewhere around the world. Like many of us, our OFWs and their families and dependents are not exempted from the adverse repercussions of this pandemic-induced recession, foremost of which is their job security.”

Bukod dito, sinabi ni Bertiz na dapat ding alisin ang paniningil ng penalty sa mga OFW kapag hindi nakapagbayad sa oras ang mga ito.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the President for heeding our call and for his genuine and kind concern for the welfare of our OFWs, especially those distressed, repatriated and who lost their jobs. We owe it a lot to our OFWs who are twice-a-hero — for their hard sacrifices to keep our economy afloat with their remittances and for serving as health care frontliners and essential services providers abroad — during this most trying time of global pandemic.”