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Doc Nanay seeks amendment of UHC Law 

House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin on Thursday said that replacing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) head would be useless if the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law would not be amended.

"We can change the PhilHealth chief a hundred times but unless we amend the law as soon as possible, Universal Health Care can never be achieved," Garin, former health secretary, said.

"I call on the leadership of both Houses to make the amendment to UHC a priority," she added.

The House Deputy Majority Leader made the statement as she plans to refile a House Resolution, urging the House Committee on Health to review some provisions of UHC Law as the said law will not be fulfilled because it contains "killer provisions."

Garin, also a doctor and vaccinologist, said that health interventions such as medicines, vaccines and medical devices need not undergo Phase IV clinical study as Section 34 of the UHC law states. She emphasized that after the Phase III clinical trial, health interventions are already considered safe and efficacious.

"With this requirement of Phase IV, Filipinos will have no recourse but to go to other countries to gain access to any breakthrough in science. This Section 34 of UHC is just one of the many provisions deemed restrictive and detrimental to health care accessibility," the resolution read.

The lawmaker also criticized the creation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), pointing out that it was influenced by anti-pharmaceutical groups and former officials who wanted to empower themselves.

Garin has been pushing for its amendment since the 18th Congress. It has been pending in the committee level since August 2020. (END)

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Salo Supports PBBM’s Stance on Possible Mandatory Repatriation of OFWs from Lebanon

KABAYAN Partylist Rep. Ron Salo expressed his support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approach in addressing the possible mandatory repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Lebanon. 

The President clarified that the Philippine government has not yet ordered such a measure and emphasized that the decision will rely on assessments from Philippine officials in the Middle East, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“We fully trust the expertise and judgment of our embassy and DFA officials on the ground. They are in the best position to evaluate the safety of our kababayans and to determine the appropriate timing of mandatory repatriation,” Salo said.

President Marcos underscored that any decision on repatriation will be based on the evolving situation in Lebanon, and he has entrusted the DFA and the Philippine embassy to make this critical decision.

Salo thanked the President for his unwavering concern for Filipino workers abroad. “We are deeply grateful to President Marcos for his steadfast compassion for our OFWs. His leadership ensures that the protection and welfare of our kababayans remain a top priority,” Salo said.

The congressman also called for an all-hands-on-deck approach, highlighting the importance of a coordinated government effort to prepare for any eventualities. “All of the government’s resources and efforts must be mobilized to protect our OFWs, and should mandatory repatriation become a must, we need act swiftly to bring them home safely,” he added.

Moreover, Salo urged that we also allow the repatriation of the Lebanese spouses and children of Filipinos, ensuring that families can stay together amid any crisis. “We must ensure that the repatriation of our kababayans includes their Lebanese spouses and children. It is crucial to protect the unity of their families during such challenging times,” Salo stressed.

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Rufus Rodriguez seeks P10-billion additional funding for rural electrification

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez today proposed an additional budget of P10 billion for the rural electrification program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for 2025.

“Let us give this program more funds so that the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of 100-percent electrification by the end of his six-year term in 2028 could be realized. Congress should help him attain that target,” he said.

He said the NEA is allocated only P2.6 billion in the proposed national budget for next year, which is about 11 percent of the agency’s funding proposal of P23.7 billion.

“Let us give it even just half of what it is seeking,” he said.

Rodriguez stressed that without additional rural electrification funds, many communities in the country “will remain in total darkness.”

“Our island, Mindanao, has the highest rate of non-sitio electrification in the country,” he added.

THIS IS TERENCE MORDENO GRANA REPORTING FOR AFP COMMUNITY NEWS, ONE AFP FOR STRONGER PHILIPPINES

He pointed out that without electricity, communities would not be able to realize economic progress.

“Like roads, electricity is an important factor in developing the countrywide, especially remote barangays,” he said.

The Mindanao lawmaker noted that in his 2023 State of the Nation Address, President Marcos Jr. promised to energize the entire country by the end of his term.

However, during congressional budget hearings, NEA officials have repeatedly warned lawmakers that the agency would not be able to meet the President’s target because of the measly funding it has been getting from Congress.

The officials said the timeline for 100-percent total electrification by 2028 is delayed by two years to three years due to inadequate budget.

Rodriguez said it is not too late for Congress to help President Marcos Jr. achieve his energization goal.

“I am urging the Senate to augment the NEA budget for next year. In case it fails to do so, the House of Representatives could play catch-up by proposing the adjustment during the bicameral conference committee deliberations,” he said.

He said by providing electricity to remote communities, “we will be helping our rural people improve their lives.”