WHILE supporting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto’s call for enhanced benefits for PhilHealth contributors, a labor group has renewed its opposition to transferring PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury, saying the proposal only strengthens the case for keeping the state insurer’s resources intact.
Federation of Free Workers (FFW) president Jose Sonny Matula said on Sunday that the proposal recognizes what the law has long provided: workers who consistently pay their PhilHealth premiums deserve additional benefits for their contributions.
“The proposal to provide enhanced PhilHealth benefits for paying members is fully consistent with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. However, the labor group stressed that improving benefits for contributors should never undermine the country’s commitment to universal health care or be used to justify the diversion of PhilHealth funds,” the FFW said on Sunday.
Matula, however, noted that Recto could have pushed for the reforms earlier when he served as Finance Secretary and sat as an ex officio member of the PhilHealth Board.
He cited Section 9 of Republic Act (RA) 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, which expressly authorizes PhilHealth to grant additional program benefits to direct contributors.
“Workers who faithfully contribute to PhilHealth deserve better and more responsive benefits. That is not a privilege — it is a recognition expressly guaranteed by law,” Matula said.
