Bago magpasa ng bagong buwis, dapat makita muna kung anong nangyari sa pera mula sa huling pagtaas

MATAPOS ang pagtaas ng buwis sa sigarilyo at alak, nais ni House committee on ways and means chairman Joey Salceda na makita muna ang pagbabago sa serbisyo ng health sector bago muling pag-isipan ang pagtataas ng buwis para rito.

Sinabi ni Salceda na bukas ito sa mga panukala upang madagdagan ang kita ng gobyerno pero mahalaga rin na makita kung ano ang naging resulta ng huling pagtataas na ginawa.

“As for health, Congress already passed successive increases in sin taxes precisely to fulfill both consumption objectives and funding objectives. I would like to see improvements in service delivery first before I am convinced that we should impose new taxes,” ani Salceda.

Ipinunto ni Salceda na kahit ng magkaroon ng malaking pondo sa pagbabakuna, ang immunization program ng gobyerno ay hindi ganun kaganda ang kinalabasan.

“Even when we had enough funds, there were delays and even cases of fraud in PhilHealth. I want a plan from both PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DOH) on how they intend to optimize service, because I cannot in good conscience keep asking the Filipino people to foot the bill when the plan is not yet there,” saad ni Salceda.

Bago umano maghanap ng dagdag na mapagkukuhanan ng pondo ang PhilHealth dapat umanong malaman kung ano muna ang ginagawa nito sa kanilang pera.

“First, is the reserve fund being invested in the most optimal way possible? Second, are there stronger mechanisms to prevent fraud? Third, are claims being paid to begin with? As for the proposal to delay, I strongly object. Present to Congress and the people operationalized alternatives before you tell us you cannot do it. You urged us to pass it UHC (Universal Health Care law) quickly. Do your part of the bargain.”

Sa DoH dapat umanong malaman kung ano na ang nangyari sa malaking pondo na ibinigay ng Kongreso at silipin kung tama ang pagkakagawa nito.

“UHC systems have to be very efficient with spending. Otherwise, they tend to balloon into fiscally unsustainable superprograms that countries struggle to support as their demography shifts.”