Filipino workers from all over the world are demanding the removal of PhilHealth’s mandatory contribution after the controversy that surrounds the agency.
A global online rally was held last August 11 led by Migrante International. In the said online rally, they were able to express their anger towards the billions of pesos allegedly plundered by Philhealth high ranking officials.
“Public health not private wealth,” according to them.
The group of OFWs helps Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales accountable for the widespread corruption in the agency which was described as “crime of the year.”
What angered the OFWs was the fact that the billions which by taken by Philhealth officials could have reached the needy Filipinos especially in this time of the pandemic.
The said widespread corruption in Philhealth is the reason why the mandatory Philhealth contribution is a scam, says the chairperson of Migrante, Joanna Conception.
For OFWs, they think that Philhealth offers no help to them and for their families as they are covered by health insurance in the country that they are in. As for seafarers and their respective families, they are covered with a healthcare insurance package sponsored by their companies.
This is the reason why the Philhealth’s mandatory premium contribution is a total scam, says the migrant group.
Under this Philhealth premium contribution, OFWs and seafarers are obliged to pay three percent of their actual salary and in 2021, this contribution will go up by 3.5 percent. In 2024, their annual contribution will increase by five percent.
Source Bulatlat
