ArchiXchange

16/09/2024

Bricks and Mortar...

13/08/2024

Nature provides answers.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/oxMAoasXgA13p6ts/?mibextid=a6qBZl

12/08/2024

Cleaning our polluted waterways..

Malaysia’s efforts to revive its polluted rivers aims to reduce plastic waste from making its way into the sea.

12/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/jKEeXoauHkqewBNh/?mibextid=oFDknk

08/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/MWtpRjCgo1fXqVyC/?mibextid=xfxF2i

10/12/2021

https://fb.watch/9Ok_30iiI8/

08/04/2021

27/01/2021

Thank you Congressman Francis Abaya of 1st District of Cavite for accomodating UAP in its drive and push for the amendment of RA11223.

Please visit, SIGN and SHARE.
https://www.change.org/OFWsCall4ChangeRA11223

The passage of Republic Act No. 11223 (“R.A. No. 11223”) last 20 February 2019 institutionalized a universal health coverage framework in the country as it echoed the State’s obligations to promote the people’s right to health by providing everyone an opportunity to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health through this law.

However, we take note of several concerns involving Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), considered to be one of the key groups in our society. Hence, we submit a call to a filing of a bill to amend R.A. No. 11223.

1. MANDATORY MEMBERSHIP OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs)
We understand that some OFWs already enjoy similar health insurance coverage while employed abroad, either free-of-charge, subsidized by the Host Government or paid through a private healthcare service provider. As such, OFWs rarely avail themselves of the services offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and therefore deemed to be redundant.

It is in this context that we propose that the amendments include making membership of OFWs in PhilHealth voluntary. By way of compromise, we propose that the groups specified under Section 8.2.d to f of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 11223, opts to avail themselves of the voluntary arrangement, they will be automatically reverted to the status of direct contributors once they re-establish their residence back to the Philippines.

2. PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs)
The responsibility of paying PhilHealth premium is placed solely on OFWs due to the non-participation of their employers.
Thus, we propose that the OFW’s’ premium contributions be fixed at an affordable and acceptable annual rate. If they so choose to contribute, it should be at a rate equivalent to the contribution of a typically employed worker in the Philippines.

We likewise propose that the penalty charges for late payment for the duration of the calendar year be waived.
Additionally, we are seeking that the reimbursement processing should be guaranteed within a maximum of 2 weeks, provided all documents are in order.

We also seek to temporarily exempt all distressed OFW from paying their premiums until such time that they regain their capacity to pay.

3. PHILHEALTH MEMBERSHIP AS A CONDITION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES (OEC)
We strongly believe that OFWs should not be forced to pay for their PhilHealth memberships as a precondition to the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (“OEC”) prior to deployment. This requirement should be permanently removed as compared to its current suspension. This regulation has proven to be exceedingly oppressive as they also pay their OWWA, SSS, and Pag-ibig dues for the duration of their contract.

We are aware that OFWs, which includes a sizeable number of our members, shape the macro economy of the Philippines and are considered modern-day heroes because of their significant contribution towards the growth of the Philippine economy. As of 2019, a total of USD 33.5 billion was sent home by OFWs 3.9% higher than the USD $32.2 billion recorded in 2018.

With the immense and significant role that our OFWs play in our economy, we submit this position paper in support of our OFWs as we cannot allow them to helplessly wallow in misery over the exorbitant premium rates and stringent requirements of a law whose objective was to make healthcare accessible to all Filipinos.

We hope and pray that our lawmakers will exercise their constitutional duty to amend the provisions of R.A. No. 11223 to make them fair and reasonable.

16/12/2020

Please support, sign and share the proposal to amend RA11223 Universal Health Care Law
https://www.change.org/AmmendRA11223

The passage of Republic Act No. 11223 last 20 February 2019 institutionalized a universal health coverage framework in the country as it echoed the State’s obligations on the people’s right to health and opportunity for everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health through this law.

However, as an OFW, we have taken note of several matters of concern that tends to marginalized the vulnerable sectors of society, hence, we submit a full support for amendments of Republic Act No. 11223 underscoring the following:

1. MANDATORY MEMBERSHIP OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS)
Although some OFWs already enjoy similar health insurance coverage while employed abroad, either free-of-charge courtesy of the Host Government and/or a Private Healthcare Service Provider, as such they rarely avail of the PhilHealth services while abroad and the imposition of the same is perceived to be redundant.

Hence, we propose that the category of OFWs must be voluntary.

If the group under Section 8.2.d to f chose to select voluntary arrangement, they will automatically be reverted back as direct contributors once they reside back to Philippines.

2. PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS)

The responsibility of paying for Philhealth premium is placed solely on the worker due to non-participation of the employer (for land-based worker).
Hence, we propose that their premium contributions be placed at an affordable and acceptable fix annual rate. If they so choose to contribute, it should be of rate equivalent to the contribution of a normally employed worker in Philippines.

We also propose that the penalty charges for late payment for the duration of the calendar year be waived.

In the IRR the reimbursement processing should be guaranteed within 2 weeks maximum provided all documents are in order.

We also seek to temporarily exempt all distressed OFW members to include those with suspended income due to valid reasons from paying their premiums until such time that they regain capacity to pay.

3. PHILHEALTH MEMBERSHIP AS A CONDITION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES (OEC)

OFWs must not be forced to pay their Philhealth membership as a condition for the issuance of OEC prior to deployment. This form of regulation has proven to be exceedingly oppressive to an overwhelming number of workers, and OFWs are overwhelmed by fees as they also pay their OWWA, SSS, and Pag-ibig for the duration of their contract.

We are aware that OFW remittances shape the macroscopic economy of the Philippines and are considered economic heroes of the country because of their significant contribution towards the growth of the Philippine economy. As of 2019, a total of USD 33.5 billion was sent home by OFWs, 3.9% higher than the $32.2 billion recorded in 2018.

With the immense and significant role that our OFWs play in our country’s economy, we submit this position in support to our OFWs as we cannot allow them to helplessly wallow in misery over the exorbitant premium rates and requirements as a result of a provision of a law whose noble aim is to make healthcare accessible to all Filipinos.

We hope and pray that our lawmakers will exercise its power to amend the provisions of RA 11223 to make them fair and reasonable especially to our OFWs, the strong pillars of the Philippine economy.

A Call to Amend RA11223 - Philippine Universal Health Care Law

02/07/2020

Long before we have our modern paint that we know today, it has undergone several ingredient changes and uses! Its colors also mean different things in different cultures. So, let us get to know more about paints! Learn more about Davies Paints at www.daviespaints.com.ph.

Long before we have our modern paint that we know today, it has undergone several ingredient changes and uses! Its colors also mean different things in different cultures. So, let us get to know more about paints! Learn more about Davies Paints at www.daviespaints.com.ph.

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