JEDDAH, 14 April 2995 — Here’s a pleasant surprise for Filipino workers who are tired of paying 193 riyals to get the required overseas employment certificate, or OEC, every time they go on vacation: Payment for Medicare are no longer collected at the Philippine Consulate.

Welfare Officer Rosauro Octaviano, head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) office in Jeddah, said that he was instructed by their head office in Manila to stop collecting Medicare payments beginning April 1, 2005.

As a result of the directive, an OFW applying for an OEC needs to pay only SR15 for the OEC itself plus SR94 (US$25) for OWWA membership, or a total of SR109, Octaviano told Arab News. What has been removed was SR84, the equivalent of 900 pesos for annual Medicare payment, he said.

An OEC exempts a Filipino worker leaving the Philippines for work abroad from paying travel tax of P500.

The OWWA membership fee is mandatory and is good for two years from the date of issue for land-based workers, such as those in Saudi Arabia.

With an active OWWA membership, an OFW enjoys coverage for injuries sustained in the workplace, disability payments, death and burial benefits, among others.

Recently, OWWA extended its offering to giving college scholarship to deserving dependents of OFWs.

The Medicare, which covers members and their dependents, is good for one year from the date of issue.

Octaviano said that in order for OFWs to be covered by Medicare, they would have to pay their yearly premium to PhilHealth — an agency created 10 years ago solely for that purpose — either at agency’s main office in Quezon City or from any of its regional offices in major cities in the Philippines.

Peter Abundo said he would rather pay every fee in the consulate in Jeddah than in the Philippines.

“For sure, the lines will be longer there than here,” he told Arab News.

Another OFW who gave her name only as Rachel said the new policy gives him an option whether to pay the Medicare or not.

“What is most important is to get an OEC and avoid being harassed at the airport (in Manila),” said the worker, who claimed that she was given a hard time by airport officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila a few years ago because she forgot to bring her OEC when she was leaving for work abroad. She said she was permitted to depart only after she paid P1000 as “penalty.”

One community leader worried that if payment for Medicare is made optional rather than mandatory, OFWs who are earn less would suffer most.

“It (OWWA directive) will benefit those who are paid well and who have bought health insurance from private agencies. It will be disastrous to the low-paid workers, especially domestic helpers and drivers, who are not covered by health insurance,” said the community leader, who asked not to be named.