Press Release - Bong Go champions amendments to the Universal Health Care Act to ease PhilHealth premium burdens on daily wage earners, poor

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, during a co-sponsorship speech, has voiced his strong support for the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, with a focus on revising the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium contributions to alleviate the financial strain on Filipinos, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Go expressed his support to Sen. JV Ejercito, Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee and principal sponsor of the Universal Healthcare Act during the 17th Congress, who also sponsored the proposed amendment to the UHC Law in the plenary session on Tuesday, March 19.

The UHC Act is originally mandated to increase the premium contribution rates until 2025 to ensure PhilHealth's financial health. However, Go highlighted the unforeseen impact of the pandemic and the economic crisis it precipitated.

"Mr. Chair, alam naman po natin na hindi natin inasahan ang nangyaring pandemya at krisis na pinagdaanan natin. I am certain that when the 17th Congress included in the law the premium rate increases, no one in this Chamber knew what was about to hit us," said Go.

The senator's concerns reflect the difficulties many Filipinos face, including job losses, business closures, and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens weighing the importance of additional contributions against their families' basic needs.

"Kaya po sa tingin ko, nararapat lang na rebyuhin ulit ang mga tinakdang pagtaas sa kontribusyon sa PhilHealth para makatulong tayo sa pag-recover ng ating mga kababayan mula sa pandemya. Marami ang nawalan ng trabaho at marami ang nagsarang mga negosyo," Go remarked.

"Sa mga ordinaryong mamamayang araw-araw na nakikipagsapalaran, ano ba ang mas mahalaga sa kanila? Ang dagdag na kontribusyon o yung mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya? Bawat piso po ay napakahalaga sa mga kababayan nating daily wage earners, mga mahihirap," he added.

Go said that most people, especially individually paying members like our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), cannot afford to pay the mandated premium increase.

The senator recounted the collective call to the Executive Department, led by