MANILA, 23 August 2003 — Here’s something OFW groups may want to scrutinize: A new version of an executive order seeking to transfer OWWA-Medicare funds and programs to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has been drawn up by the Arroyo government.
According to Carmelita Nuqui of the Philippine Migrant Rights Watch (PMRW), the draft order, preapred on June 16, is to take the place of Executive Order 182, which was signed by President Gloria Arroyo on Feb. 14 but remained unimplemented because it was never published in the official gazette.
Nuqui told Arab News that the president of PhilHealth, Dr. Francisco Duque, has also assured non-governmental organizations that the Overseas Filipino Workers would first be consulted on the proposed transfer.
Nuqui said she told Duque in a meeting at his office that “we’re not against the transfer but we’re against the process.”
She explained that the transfer was seemingly done in haste and with a total lack of transparency.
Earlier, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said she objected to EO 182 because she wanted part of OWWA-Medicare’s funds to remain with the OWWA.
“That has been revoked because I will not allow the transfer of funds that will not benefit the OFWs,” Sto. Tomas said.
She said DOLE was trying to formulate a health plan wherein some funds would remain with OWWA for rehabilitation expenses. For example, Sto. Tomas said if a worker’s limb was cut off, PhilHealth would answer for the actual medical care and OWWA-Medicare funds could be used to create a prosthesis for the severed limb.
This led to the drafting of a second EO last June 16, 2003, which might undergo revision after consultations are held with the NGOs and the OFWs.
“The fund to be transferred shall be in the amount actuarially needed to fund the basic OFW Medicare Program for a period of one year to ensure continuity of service to OFWs,” the draft order said.
It added that “the remaining portion of the Health Insurance Fund shall be retained and used by OWWA to exclusively fund the supplemental health benefit package of the OFWs.”
