Good News OFWS: Philhealth and Pag-ibig not MANDATORY ANYMORE!

This is good news to all OFWs. 

We sent an email inquiry to POEA confirming this matter and here is the reply:

PEBA: "Pag kukuha po ba kami ng OEC ngayon starting April 1, MANDATORY pa rin po ba na hahanapan o pababayarin kami ng PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG or pwede na makakuha ng OEC lang without paying ng mga ito?"

POEA:  "Yes we are no longer requiring Philhealth and Pag-Ibig contribution payments in the process of securing OECs. The OWWA contribution, however, will still have to be paid."

So it means those who wants to pay only OEC and OWWA will only pay around P1,000 - P1300 in order to SECURE OEC o Balik Manggagawa Certificate


***********

From Philhealth

Starting April 1, vacationing and
re-hired overseas Filipino workers will have to pay their premium contributions
to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) separately from
their payments to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for
their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs).

This development is in line with the
decision of the POEA to implement a single collection policy starting on the
same date. The POEA will only be collecting fees for OEC and no longer for
PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund.

image by R. Llanda

The collection counters of
PhilHealth and other government agencies, however, will be retained at POEA in
Mandaluyong City and in the one-stop shops of POEA nationwide.

“We call on our OFW-members to pay
their PhilHealth premium contributions first before going to the POEA for their
OECs. This will secure their social health insurance coverage, as well as that
of their legal dependents, for their peace of mind,” said PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla.

Padilla added that “OFW-members may still pay
their premium contributions at the designated PhilHealth counters at the
Balik-Manggagawa Center at the POEA in Mandaluyong City, as well as through any
of the 27 accredited collecting partners that we have earlier authorized for
local collection from OFW-members. They may also pay at our Local Health
Insurance Offices nationwide.”

Overseas Filipinos pay P2,400.00
annually for their premium contribution to PhilHealth. The amount includes
coverage for all qualified legal dependents of a migrant worker such as legal
spouse who is not a PhilHealth member; legitimate and illegitimate children
below 21 years old, unmarried and unemployed; and parents who are below 60
years old but are suffering from permanent disability which renders them
totally dependent on the member for support.

Parents who are 60 years old and
above and are not yet PhilHealth members may enrol under the Senior Citizen
category.

PhilHealth pays for overseas
hospitalization of migrant workers, as well as for the confinement of their
legal dependents in the Philippines, through a reimbursement mechanism. Migrant
workers have 180 calendar days from the date of discharge to file their claim
documents through any of PhilHealth’s 17 Regional Offices in the Philippines. All
refunds are paid for in Philippine peso equivalent. (END)

PAYMENT OF PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS
OF MIGRANT WORKERS 

EFFECTIVE
APRIL 1, 2015 

Starting April 1, vacationing OFWs or balik-manggagawa returning to their
destinations overseas, must proceed to the PhilHealth counters at the POEA
in Ortigas EDSA, Mandaluyong City to pay their premium contributions. 

Upon recent advice by the POEA, payments for Overseas Employment
Certificates (OECs) will no longer include PhilHealth premium contributions.
To avoid the long queue, OFWs should pay their PhilHealth premiums first
before going to POEA to get their OECs.
Premium payments may be made at designated PhilHealth Counters at
the Balik-Manggagawa Center, or through any of our accredited collecting
partners nationwide. 

The list of ACAs authorized to collect OFW premium
contributions can be found on www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2014/
adv12-03-2014.pdf.
Further inquiries regarding this matter may be referred to the Overseas
Filipinos Program Office at (+63917) 5129149, (+632) 441-7444 ext. 7416
or through ofp@philhealth.gov.ph. 

by ALEXANDER A. PADILLA

Philhealth President

©2014 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

TOP 10 REASONS WHY WE OPPOSE THE INTEGRATION OF TERMINAL FEE

TOP 10 REASONS WHY WE OPPOSE THE INTEGRATION OF TERMINAL FEE

1.   Against Republic Act 10022

The  R.A. 10022 as amended read as follows: SEC. 35.  Exemption from Travel Tax, Documentary Stamp and Airport Fee. - All laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the migrant workers shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and airport-fee upon proper showing of proof entitlement by the POEA.

Sabi ni Raymund L. ng Jeddah Saudi Arabia: “Basic logic lang eh example nagnakaw siya tapos nahuli kaya ibinalik niya, does it acquit him of his crime? Same thing sa batas na di dapat maningil o pagbayarin ng terminal fee ang mga OFWs tapos ngayon sisingilin at isasauli.. Eh kung ganyang logic nila parang sinabi mo na pwedeng magnakaw ng bilyon-bilyon  sa gobyerno at pag nahuli ka isasauli mo at wala ng kaso kasi isinauli mo naman.”

2.   Not all Employer will Pay OFWs Air Ticket

a)    Not all. In countries like United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Singapore and many others, as commenters expressed that they are the one paying for their air tickets. The sponsors only cover the payment once you are on exit or your contract ends.

b)    Family Case, where the family stays abroad with the OFW. The OFW shoulder the cost not related to planeticket and sometimes even more depending on what the OFW and the employer agreed to.

c)    Some employers give the money to employee and employee will purchase the ticket, now with terminal, they haveto pay extra for the P550

d)    During Emergency Leave or Vacation, employees usually pay for their air tickets.

Sabi ni Clarita, a caregiver based in Israel: “Hindi po employer ang bumibili ng ticket naming,sa halos 9 years ko na dito sa Israel, kada bakasyon ko, ako ang bumibili ngticket. Sasagutin lang ng employer ko ang airplane ticket cost kung finishcontract na ako.”

Sabi ni Mel from Dammam, Saudi Arabia:”Fix na rate ang binibigay sa amin ngemployer, kung pick season, mas lalong mag-aabono na kami ng pambayad niyan saair tickets kasi may terminal fee pa.”

3.   Money (P550) TerminalFee is already a one day hard earned salary to many OFWs.

Sabi ni Josie ng Doha Qatar: “Samin po na mga kasambahay, isang araw nanaming pinagpaguran yang P550 na yan, halos 18-20 hours na kaming pagod niyanpara lamang ibayad sa terminal fee tapos hindi mo na ipaparefund”

4.   Forms? So many forms.

Sabi ni Saysonic, an OFW based in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia: “The forms and many requirements is not in line with PNoy's tuwid na daan wherein he wants all government services to shorten the processes so they can serve more people...however, yung forms na ipapafill-up sa atin in refunding the Terminal Fee is a waste of time plus the fact na nagdagdag ka pang papaswelduhang empleyado sa counter ng refunds.”

5.   Long Lines? Which line has a longer Queue, Terminal Fee or OEC verification?

If you want to eliminate longer lines by including the terminal fee in air tickets and then ask OFWs to refund, you should observe at the NAIA counter. Mas mahaba ang linya, ang verification sa OEC, prior to immigration counter kaysa sa linya ng nagbabayad ng Terminal Fee. Now,imagine those OFWs lining up for refund? The long lines at the OEC verification is quick, because it requires only stamping, what more yung may mga papers and documents to fill and present and to be checked?

Sabi ni Beverly from Dubai, UAE: Can they please confirm their figures na 25% lng ang OFWs na gumagamit ng airport. The highest concentration is here in the Middle East na at least every one or two years umuuwi? Halos lahat OFW. Compared sa mga hindi OFW na US or Canada based na kung ilang taon bago umuuwi. I really think if they have a truthful numberkung ilan ang OFW airport users (international flights ratio lang) that alone will show na hindi efficient solution yun to trim down the cues.

6.   Refund? Why pay? Why not make a SOLUTION at the point of purchase?

MIAA will pay the airline carriers P150M annually for collecting the terminal fee. Why not at the point of purchase na kung saan bibili ka pa lang ng ticket ay malalaman na nasa abroad ka at OFW ka? There are many measures na pwedeng magagawan ng paraan. IP address when purchase online. Country location when purchasing the air tickets abroad. Proof of being an OFW, can be passport, company ID, old OEC, or simply ask if OFW or not.

7.   Computation: Refund and No Refund

If there are 4,000 OFWs leaving the countrydaily: 4,000 x 550 = P2,200.000 How many counters do they have to set-up afterimmigration booth? 2, 4, 6, 10 counters? How many counters ang naka set up saOEC verification, 2 counters. 2 counters sa nagbabayad ng terminal fee and theysaid na makakasave sila ng P50M because of this. How much expenses will theyincur sa REFUND counters?

If there are 1,000 OFWs that will notrefund daily, assuming yan na lang kaliit ang ayaw mahassle, 1,000 x P550 =P550,000. Half Million Pesos daily, in 30 days, P16.5M!!!

8.   Airport Scenario OnDeparture: Maiiwan ng Eroplano o Nagmamadali, Madaming Bata.

Dalawa among 3 requirements sa pagrefund sa Departure Area.(section VII item29.i.1and 3).. COPY OF PASSENGER TICKET... at yung PRESENTATION OF BOARDING PASS... magkaibang words ang ginamit.. yung una COPY at yung pangalawa PRESENTATION. Mangangailangang ixerox pa sa loob ng departure area ang Passenger Ticket ang sabi - COPY. We all know na pag nasa loob na ng Departure area di ka na pwede lumabas pagkalampas ng Immigration Counter.. or even if eh lalabas ka pa ba para magpaxerox lang.. kung meron man sa loob

Sabi ni Kathy G. based in Kuwait: “Sa aking experience wala pang PILA ng Terminal Fee refund madami ng naiiwanan ng eroplano. Madaming pila ang dadaanan mo bago ka makapunta ng Boarding Area. Kung after Immigration ang refund, at konti nlng ang oras mo bago ang Depature time hindi mo na gugustuhin na magrefund lalo na kung may kasama kang mga bata na pipila.”

9.   If the OFW will not Refund, Where will it go?

How will the government accountfor the unclaimed refunds? Where will it go?

Sabi ni Fidel C. an OFW based in Riyadh Saudi Arabia: “The many 'irregularities' that trapped so many people in the government to become corrupt, it is not hard to understand that funds collected and may not all be refunded accordingly will find its way to fund other corrupt practices. The circular that integrates the terminal fees into the purchase of tickets and then to be refunded is JUST one way to make money for a hidden agenda, like funds for the upcoming elections, extra expenses to win peoples' votes etc. since The 1987 constitution has been changed, it also opened vast opportunities for making laws that have loopholes in their processes. More people came to politics and the budget bloomed sky high for their salaries and wages. All from people's taxes and yet those in power can simply manipulate these laws...and are they themselves the first to be corrupt....SO. Where else will these funds go??? Projects ?? You can't blame the whole world to think that this circular is intended for other reasons and the terminal fees and it's circular of integration is one covert conspiracy under the guise of a Legalized tool of corruption. Just look who is watching..he may be the brains of this all and if it fails, only those below will be blamed.”

10. No Consultation to OFWs.

OFWs are one of the sectors that will be greatly affected by this policy measure,but there was no dialogue or consultation that was conducted before this circular was signed. Nagmuro-muro sila, sila-sila lang hindi man lang tayo sinabihan pero tayo ang magbabayad! Ganyan ba ang demokrasya? Ganyan pa sa Aquino government? Palagay namin hindi. So why allow this to be implemented?

©2014 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Watch VIDEO: "Domestic Help"[er]

There was a dinner party hosted by an Asian family with a Filipina Household Service Worker or a domestic helper. The  madam is feisty, pretentious, and unkind to the domestic helper. 

"An intimate dinner party comes alive as the night takes an unexpected turn. The inhabitants become the imprisoned, and the only way to break free is to confront the lies they have told themselves. A walk through the dark history of the household becomes a desperate struggle for survival, but by dawn it becomes clear that redemption is out of reach."

Watch Other Asian Short Films at www.viddsee.com

©2014 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Dear Philhealth, Sorry But We Are Not Partners

First and foremost, welcome to my humble home. I welcomed here Representative Trisha Bonoan-David, the Vice President Jejomar Binay, and even you the first time around. Do you still remember when you flirted with your P300 increase from the P900.00 fees making our fees starting January 2012 to P1,200? Wala akong nagawa nun kasi December, busy ako sa vacation.

May mga taong mahilig sa 50, mahilig ako sa sampu, so here are the 10 things I want you to know in case you really don't know. Sit back. Relax. Let's have a heart to heart talk. I will try not to be confrontational. This is my blog, but I am giving you in the comment section below the chance to answer my questions, and to explain your side. 

1. There is a raging debate going on. Ayaw ko ng salitang mandatory, compulsory, and requirement. Most of the people especially OFWs wanted to have an OPTIONAL membership in Philhealth. I was in favor of that proposal then. I changed my mind. I understand na sa OFW funds niyo kinukuha ang malaking budget para gamitin sa healthcare system ng bayan. Kaya nga sapilitan kaming magbayad kasi kailangan kami ng bayan para tulungan ang mga nagkakasakit, at gamutin ang mga hirap at hindi makaafford magpagamot. Now, I get it. We are 'Bagong Bayani". We send dollars, we feed our families, we send our kids to schools, and we help the government take care of the nation.

2. For many years, I paid P900 everytime I come home. Well, 8 years to be exact. Wala akong reklamo. Di ko nga naintindihan yan. Wala nga akong ID. Di ko nga alam ang ID number ko, meron ba sa OEC? Saan ko makikita yan? Bigla kang nagtaas. P300, so naging P1,200. Umangal ako nun. Pero dahil OFW ako, kelangan kong makalabas ng bansa para kumita. 

3. Isang taon lang ang lumipas, sa susunod na January 01, 2013 (and January 2014) kelangan kong magbayad kada taon ng P2,400 para makaalis ng bansa, mandatory bago mabigyan ng OEC. Dito tayo hindi nagkaintindihan. Saan ka nakakita ng kumpanya or negosyante na tumaas ng 100% ng kanilang paninda or bayarin? 

4. Bilangin natin ang perang nakukuha ng Philhealth sa OFWs. 10M x 1,200 = P12,000,000,000 (P12B)

magiging P24,000,000,000 (P24B) yan. Bilyong pera ang pinag-uusapan natin. Ilabas niyo po kung sa 10M na OFW sa buong mundo, ilang OFW ang nakinabang ng Philhealth pati mga dependents nila sa isang taon. Sa informal survey na ginawa online, 2-3 sa sampung OFW or dependents nila ang nakinabang ng benepisyo. Why imposed a 100% increase.

5. Ako, kasama ng aking small family ay magkakasama dito sa abroad. Nagbabayad ako ng Philhealth pero ni minsan hindi ko nagamit ito. At meron akong health insurance, pati ang aking 8 buwan na anak na bunso, may health card. Nanganak ang misis ko, wala akong binayaran dito kahit piso. Bakit ako gagamit ng Philhealth na pahirapan sa pagfill up ng form at pagparefund? 

 6.  Ayusin natin ang dependents scheme. Paano ang mga single na wala pang 60 ang kanilang mga magulang kasi hindi pwede mga kapatid as dependents. Paano ang mag-asawa na nagtratrabaho sa abroad, at ang mga anak ay more than 21 years old na. Paano ang couple na parehong OFW, bakit pareho silang magbabayad?

7. Ang OWWA ba ay healthcare system or mabibigyan ka lang ng benefit kung tigok ka na? Kung ang OWWA ay healthcare, ano ang silbi nito kung merong Philhealth? Kung kelangan mapaayos ang serbisyo sa OFW at mga pamilya nila na naiwan sa Pinas, bakit walang ibang choice na healthcare providers?

8. If nagbayad ako ng sampung taon, ni minsan hindi ko ito nagamit, umuwi ako ng Pinas, inabot ako ng pang11th year, nagkasakit at hindi ako nakapagbayad, wala na akong coverage!  Wala bang option na pwede mo makuha after how many years kung hindi mo nagamit?

9. Bakit hindi natin bigyan ng maayos na benefits ang mga OFW. Minsan lang sa isang taon o dalawang taon kami umuuwi. Bakit hindi natin eextend ang service sa Free or 20% fee para sa regular check-up? Bakit kelangan ko muna maadmit pati mga dependents ko, bago ko magamit ang service?

10. Since abroad kami, bakit kelangan pa ipadala ang mga forms dito sa abroad, pipirmahan ko, tapos ipapadala na naman sa Pinas, tapos maghihintay ng halos 6 months bago ang refund? Why not establish a system na easier on our part? Sa bilyon-bilyong pera nakukuha niyo sa mga OFW kada taon, kadalasan pa nito hindi nagagamit ang Philhealth kasi may mga health card and insurance as required of our host countries labor laws, bakit di niyo ipunin ang mga pinakamagaling na mga IT na Pinoy at gumawa ng program at system para maenhance ang service? This goes to OWWA as well.

I am sorry. After enumerating the 10 points above, I believe we are not partners in health. Partners mutually benefit from each other. I see a one sided relationship here. Before you ask for a 100% increase, make your service better first. It's a shame because, me and speaking of other OFWs, we came from Europe, North America and Canada, Asia and the Pacific and even Middle East, where healthcare system is much better so don't impose through Philhealth Circular 007 series of 2012 that you want to increase our fees.

You can see how my sentiments mirror many others. In a matter of 8 hours, this call not to implement the increase generated 14,500 SHARES multiply that with at least 300 friends of the sharer, and we are talking around 4,350,000 views, (4.35M). OFWs are tired and sick of the many payments here and there. Before it was fine, nobody complained, now, it not the case anymore. OFWs, 90% of them use internet as a means to communicate with families are into social media, blogs, twitter and Facebook. Sabi nga kanina,

Ang rally for a cause is wala na sa kalsada, kundi through sharing sa Social Media. Let's see if makakaabot sa inyo. Let's see if makikinig kayo.

I issue a challenge to the Presidential Adviser on OFW Affairs VP Jejomar Binay, and the Congress and Senate. Who is brave and a true leader enough to look into this matter seriously? Here are your people, numbering by the millions, OFWs 10M or more, asking you to STOP this mandatory increase for Philhealth Fees. You can read their voices here.

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO

To VP Jejomar Binay: OFW Pag-ibig Pay at POEA

When we went home for vacation last December 2011, I went to POEA to pay for my Balik-Manggagawa payment to avoid any hassles that we might encounter, thinking about the things I've read and heard from other vacationing OFW's.

I prepared for my normal P1,200 fee, and then was surprised that I am required to fill up a Pag-ibig form. I heard that we will all be require to pay as mandatory to OFW's. This bother's me with another "Required for OFW's" so I went to Pag-Ibig booth and inquired about it. He said it is indeed mandatory. I told him I am paying monthly contribution amounting to P400+. I showed him my POP (Pag-ibig Overseas Program). He said, I am okay, I am no longer required to fill up the form and pay.

I remember a couple of OFW friends recounting their experiences to me about Pag-ibig mandatory payment. A friend from Bahrain:

"Sir Kenji, please check this out too. Umuwi ako July 2010. Ayaw kong magbayad ng PAG-IBIG but then sabi sa Phil embassy compulsory daw. So I paid for 4months in advance yet official receipt and print out of TEMPORARY PAG-IBIG NUMBER lang yung binigay sa akin. When I checked with my colleagues na nagbabayad dito for more than 2yrs, TEMPORARY number pa rin ang binibigay. I got discouraged and didn't pay thereafter.

Tanong: How can we monitor if na-register ang payment ko sa Pinas? 

May ID ba silang ibibigay like SSS ID card which is more convenient to slip inside our wallet and for easy monitoring wherever we go?

From another:

I remember, I have on process PAG-IBIG membership before I left Muntinlupa Medical Center where I worked for years. A representative from embassy here told me that it is different since I'm gonna pay now in dollars. I didn't mind paying here coz I didn't even know if they started cutting it from my salary when I was in Muntinlupa.

Anyway, if there's a chance, please check specifically my ID if they remit what I paid there, TOP is 000000000. Your help is highly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

I requested a courtesy visit to Vice President Jejomar Binay through Mr. Benjie Martinez his Chief of Staff  so we can ask several questions and discuss about this concerns from OFW's. Unfortunately, they are out of town that week prior to my flight back here in Saudi Arabia. You see if every vacationing OFW will pay P400 pesos, and there are 1,000 OFWs paying everyday, you have P10,000,000 (10M) every month and a whooping P120M every year, and we know more than a thousand OFWs are paying to POEA everyday. 

A couple of question to somehow clarify this matter.

1. Why OFW have to keep filling the form if they don't have the POP card or they don't have the FINAL Pag-ibig Number?

2. Can Pag-ibig issue a POP card to all OFW's paying at the POEA para maiwasan ang padoble-dobleng bayad and issuance of several Pag-ibig numbers?


Below is the memo of the Mandatory Coverage and Membership of Overseas Filipino Workers

********************************************

Department of Labor and Employment

BFO Building, Ortigas Avenue cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City 1501

Website: www.poea.gov.ph E-mail: info@poea.gov.ph

Hotlines: 722-1144, 722-1155

Memorandum Circular No. 06

Series of 2010

To: ALL CONCERNED

Subject: Mandatory Coverage and Membership of Overseas Filipino Workers under the Home Development Mutual Fund otherwise known as Pag-IBIG (Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno)

Date: 7 July 2010

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9679, or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, otherwise known as Pag-IBIG Fund, whick took effect on 27 August 2009, the following guidelines are hereby issued.

1. Coverage. All Overseas Filipino Workers are covered by the Pag-IBIG Fund whether landbased or seabased.
2. Implementation. POEA implementation of the mandatory coverage shall start on 01 August 2010.
3. Contribution. Upon registration and deployment of an OFW, an initial membership contribution of six hundred pesos (P600.00) representing six (6) months contribution shall be paid by the worker. The OFW may however, opt to contribute a higher amount as provided under Rule VI of the same law.
4. Procedure for Membership Registration of OFWs at the POEA and Issuance of POEA exit clearance/Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). The following procedures for the membership registration and issuance of the POEA exit clearance/OEC shall be observed.

a.)    OFWs processed through the POEA Name Hire Facility, the Government Placement Branch and the Balik-Manggagawa Center shall register with the Fund by submitting to POEA a Member Data Form (MDF) in addition to the existing documentary requirements, as a requirement for the processing of their documents and issuance of the POEA exit clearance/OEC.

b.)    For OFWs hired through POEA-licensed recruitment agencies, the recruitment agency shall submit to POEA the individual MDF of their hired OFWs in addition to the existing documentary requirements as a requirement for the processing of the workers’ documents and issuance of the POEA exit clearance/OEC.

For compliance effective immediately.

Jennifer Jardin-Manalili

Administrator


********************************************************************************

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO