/ FEBRUARY 21, 2019
THURSDAY
D||TERTE $IO]I$ tAtlt| EJ(PAIIDI]IO PllITllEAI.Tll COUERAOE
By christine o. Avendafio
@.1oavendandINQ
President Duterte on Wednesday
;igned a law giving all Filipinos
rccess to health care services.
The UnivLrsal Health Care
Act expands PhilHealih cover-
rge to include all citizens of
the Philippines, and its ser-
i/ices to provide members free
medical consuliation, labora-
lory tests, and other diagnostic
requirements.
Mr. Duterte hailed the new
[aw, saying it "guaranteels] eq-
uitable access to quality and af-
Fordable health care services for
ell Filipinos."
The President also signed
the Revised Corporation Code
during an event in Malacaiang
that was attended by Senate
President Vicente Sotto III,
Speaker cloria Macapagal-Ar-
royo and the legislators who
wrote the two lai\rs.
Mr. Duterte also presented
other newly signed laws, in-
cluding the Social Security Act,
Philippine Sports Training
Center Act, new Central Bank
Act and a measure dividing
Southern Leyte into two leg-
islative districts.
All are PhilHealth members
. The Universal Health Care
Act enrolls all Filipino citizens
in the National Health Insur-
ance Program, either as I'direct
contributors" or as "indirect
contributors."
Direct contributors pay
he4lth premiums, while indirect
contributors are sponsored
members like senior citizens
and indigents.
Under the new law, all Fil-
ipinos may seek primary health
services even without Phil-
Health identif ication cards.
The law also requires all
graduates of health-related
courses. whose studies were
funded through government
scholarships to serve for at least
three years in public hospitals.
Implementation of the law
requires P257 billion in the first
year, but it is given only.PzrT bil-
lion in the proposed P2o19 na-
tional budget that Mr. Duterte
has yet to sign.
Health Secretary Francisco
Duque III earlier said the tund-
WWW.INQUIRER.NET
HEALTH CARE FoRALL senate President Vicente sqtto lll, speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and other legislators applaud President Duterte as he signs the Universal Health Care Act in
Malacaiang on Wednesday. -rolr eorooc
ing gap of P4o billion meant of the new law would come
that not all the hospitals or from taxes on sin products,
health centers planned under Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
the new lawwould be built. Office, Philippine Amusement
and Gaming corp., Depart-
Village health centers ment of Health (DoH), govern-
Priority would be given to ment subsidy to PhilHealth
building village health centers and contributions of Phil-
so that residents would not need Health members.
to go to hospitals for treatment In a statement released in
of minor illnesses, Duque said. Malacanang on We$nesday, the
Funds for implementation DOH said it was "adtrelv work-
t' FAg-g - Ay,'
Att Fil.lPil0$
' bers and pensioners, the Presi
ing't for n'*n"a aise on tobac-
co and alcohol "to ensure funds
for the implementation of uni-
versal healthcare.
Presidential spokesperson
Salvador Panelo said gradual
implementation of the new
law was likely due to the fund-
ing gap.
"But there are r\any ways to
augment the resour&s,l'm sule
ttr€ government will krlw how
to source funds in accordance
with the Constitution," Panelo
told reporters.
Describing the bther newly
signed laws, Mr. Duterte said
the Revised Corporation Code
"simplifliesl corporate gover-
nance standards and estab-
lish[es] a more business friendly
environment that will enable
corporations and other judicial
entities to thdve-"
Bigger SSS income
The social Security Act ex-
pands the investing capacity of
the Social Security commis-
sion, enabling it to generate
bigger income for SSS mem-
dent said.
The amended Bangko Sen-
tral ng Pilipinas (BSP) charter,
he said, strengthens the central
bank's financial capability and
makes it more flexible in using
its regulatory powers.
During the ceremony, Mr
Duterte also oYersaw th€
turnover of a check for P4 bil.
lion in BSP dividends to the Na'
tional Treasury. -wrrH a REPonr
F4oM DAPHNEGALVEZ INQ