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

Philhealth Circular 007 Series of 2012

Below is a copy of the Philhealth Memorandum Circular 007 Series of 2012 detailing that effective January 2013, all OFWs are required to pay a compulsory P2,400.00 from the initial P1,200.

We want you to know this is already approved by the Board and we are against the implementation of this Circular 007.

Below is the full copy of the Circular.



BELOW is our call to all OFWs to support our cause.

©2012 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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An Open Letter to Cong. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David

Dear Congresswoman Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David,

This is a personal letter to the representative of Manila 4^th District, Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David. I will pose 10 questions for you to answer. I believe that the solution to the OFW Emergency Repatriation Fund is not the lack of funds, it is how do we make use of the money from OWWA funds.

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Ako po ay sumusulat sa aking blog, sapagkat itong aking munting tahanan ay nagsilbi na ring munting tinig bilang isang mamamayan at isang OFW. Minsan na rin po itong blog na lumaban sa mga taong nagkutya ng mga Caregivers, at nakipagsagutan ng blog sa taong nagsabing ang mga ‘OFW ay humahalik sa mga puwet ng dayuhan para kumita ng dolyar.’

Noong sinabi ni PNoy na babawasan niya ang funds ng mga Social Services para sa mga OFW, isa ako sa mga tumutol sapagkat nakikita natin na magiging mahirap ang mga bagay para sa ating mga OFW. Noong sinabi ng Philhealth na gagawin nila ang payment na required sa mga OFWs from P900 at magiging P2,400, isa din po ako sa mga nagblog ng pagtutol sapagkat wala akong nakikitang pakinabang para sa maraming OFW na nagbabayad ng Philheallth, kasi mas magandang Medical Insurance ang binibigay ng company dito sa Saudi Arabia or Middle East or ibang bansa kaysa sa Philhealth. Noong naging requirement ang Pag-ibig at nakita natin ang hindi maayos na sistema at paiba-ibang Pag-ibig number ang binibigay sa mga OFWs sa OWWA, ay nagreklamo tayo kay Vice Pres. Binay at sinagot naman po at pinaliwanag ng kanyang Chief of Staff.

Ang akin pong pagtutol sa mga bagay na ito ay hindi lamang para sa mga OFW kundi dahil mismo ako ay walong taon ng nagtratrabaho sa Saudi Arabia. Nabasa ko sa internet ang inyong panukalang batas na magdadagdag ng 50$ ang mga OFW na papaalis ng bansa, or maging ng mga magbabakasyon at isasama sa requirement ng OEC.

Pumutok ang balitang iyan na may inihain po kayo, Congressman Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David na House Bill (HB) No. 6195 to amend the Republic Act 8042 o ang Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995. As of this writing, your Facebook photos ay naishare na sa Facebook ng mahigit 1,000 times CONDEMNING your Bill in Congress.

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I would like to ask you the following questions hoping for your answer so I can better understand and maybe support your bill.

1.    Who run the OWWA? I met with OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon, I just wanted a picture with her because she doesn't have time to entertain questions.

2.    Are the people working in the directorship of OWWA are former OFWs who understand our plights and situations abroad?

3.    Who audits OWWA? Let us be transparent here.

4.    Assuming there are 4,000 OFWs leaving the country every day, multiply that with 25$ we are paying as required, 4,000 x 25$ (P43) x 30 Days x 12 months = P15,48,000,000 (P15.5B) every year. Do we know where do OWWA use this money? Explain to us first where you use these funds because first and foremost we own that money. There is still a missing P551M funds from the previous administration.

5.    You said "There are millions of OFWs all over the world which the Philippine government is mandated to protect and safeguard under RA 8042 but it seems incapable to efficiently help distressed OFWs due to financial constraints” Why wouldn’t you be so noble to donate P10M from you and each of the fine congressmen from the PORK Barrel and we are talking about P10M x 200 Congressmen - a whooping P2B pesos in additional funds for OFWs!

6.    Why not make a bill or promote it so that OFWs who will retire at the age of 60 will benefit from OWWA?

7.    Sino ang nakikinabang sa mga binabayad namin na 25$? The undocumented, run aways, and those people who come as tourist and then decides to be TNT?

8.    Nakonsulta mo ba ang mga OFW groups and other NGOs sa panukalang batas na yan, Congresswoman David? I am sure they can give you very good advise. The likes of Susan Ople or Jun Aguilar?

9.    Di ba nakasaad sa RA Act 10022 or MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995 na bawal ang magbigay ng increase payments and burdens sa mga OFWs and their families?

10. Is there a way for you to pass the Bill creating an up-to-date database and locator system, disaster preparedness at mitigation measures without imposing the pay to us, OFWs?

I remind you that your political career is at stake here. Some of the OFW sentiments are strong, and emotions are high. I understand that. Just go over those comments, threading up to hundreds in FACEBOOK, TWITTER, FORUMS and Chatrooms. 

You awaken the quiet giants, 11 million strong and able men and women and their families back home, some of them maybe living in your district. If you cannot explain fully to the angry millions whom the government labeled as Bagong Bayani because of PERANG PADALA, and justify the measure, please, think of another Bill. Not this one. Tadtad na kami ng bayarin mula kaliwa't kanan sa processing and sa requirements.

Bagong bayani? Those Billions of dollars of money flowing freely to the Philippines keeps the economy afloat, feeds our families, and allow us to send our kids to school but we don't ask anything from you. We don't even rally to computerized the system of documentation and payments in OWWA so it will be a little easier for us, OFWs. We don't even demand from the people in the agencies and consulates and embassies who seem to be so honorable and unreachable with their titles to be kind to us, JUST BE KIND to us.

 We don't want glory, we want better government services and honest leaders.

Madam Congresswoman, with this BILL, you may have good intention, but you are fighting against people, the OFWs, who are already tired of politicians milking their very hard earned dollar. People who are lonely, away from their families and love ones. People who sacrifice all, bearing the heat of the desert and the cold of the night so they can provide a better future for their families. They feel the pain and frustrations, never mind the fatigue and tremendous challenges dealing with people of different background, culture and ways. WE ARE OFWs. WE ARE NOT HEROES, WE ARE FILIPINO CITIZENS of the WORLD who only wanted a better life. Don't make it hard for us.

Please be considerate. Please use your mind and heart.

A Facebook page against this Bill and to pressure Congresswoman Bonoan-David not to pass the Bill can be found here, GLOBAL OFW VOICES

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO

Symposium on Saudization in Manila

Ms. Susan Ople of the Blas Ople Foreign Policy Ceter lead the Symposium on Saudization today June 23, 2011 at Midas Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. Atty. Koko Pimentel welcomed participants from the OFW Families, Recruitment Agency and the NGOs.
Mr. Lito Soriano presented a powerpoint showing statistics emphasizing on the nature of the deployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) where only 36% are new hires and the majority at 64% are rehires. And of the total 2008 data from CFO (Comm. of Filipino Overseas), of the 2.2M deployed abroad 53% (47% the rest of the world) are found in the Middle East (ME) where 1.3 (regular and irregular/undocumented) Filipinos work in KSA. He stressed that the biggest challenge for OFWs in the Middle East is downsizing. It was re-echoed by a participant from a recruitment agency that once KSA implemented a successful Saudization it would follow that other countries in the ME would follow suit.
The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affair (OUMWA) Executive Director Eric Endaya offered several suggestions in addressing and counteracting Saudization like expanding TESDA training, providing more consular offices and labor officials abroad, revisit and analyze
RA 10022 Amendatory Law on Magna Carta for Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos (provision on mandatory insurance for migrants deployed by recruitment and/or manning agencies. ). He proposed the need to include the private sector in reviewing the law and encouraged the symposium participants to submit their policy proposal to address Saudization.
In the forum PEBA founder Kenji Solis’s video interview was presented together with a video from Patnubay ng Riyadh. It was seen from the interviewed that some are not familiar about Saudization or still confused with it. Only few of them are aware of the color coding system of Nitaqat.

Mr. Jun Aguilar, Jr. of the Filipino Migrant Workers Group presented the Nitaqat System. The Saudization law which is aimed at placing skilled and qualified Saudis in a career field and creating business growth was already put forward since 1994 but this year in 2011 September 10; the Saudi government will fully implement the law. So only three months are given to those companies in the yellow (partially satisfied Saudization requirement, their employees going on 6 years will not be rehired if the company will not fully comply to reach the green category) and red (contravened or ignored Saudization) categories to comply with the law. OFW who are in the household work (domestic helper, gardener, etc) and those who work in companies with less than 10 workers are exempted from the law. Platinum (company with exceptional record) and green (company that complies with Saudization) categories are the safe companies that OFW should belong to.

According to Mr. Aguilar the Saudi government is keen to implement Saudization this time given that they have already outlined concrete process to implement it and providing penal provisions for those who will not comply. Several ministries are also linked on this effort that includes the Ministry of Labor, the Minsitry of Interior (that issues Iqama/Jawazat) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This action from the government of providing jobs for Saudis is seen as their answer in preventing revolts in the Kingdom like those that happened in other Gulf countries where youth are asking for jobs.

Although considered as an adversity but there is also opportunities that await OFWs like possible of being upgraded to a better paying and more stable job. The speaker suggested that OFWs be provided information in finding out companies in the platinum and green category; OFW families be prepared of the possible implication of Saudization; and for the government to come-up with a comprehensive reintegration plan for OFWs.

In the symposium the government representatives from OWWA and POEA were at the receiving end of several tough questions they managed to answer with their best. One of the contentions raised by recruitment agency is RA 10022 where they foresee themselves going bankrupt if they will be the ones to cover for repatriation of OFWs (deployed and covered under RA 10022) who will be affected by Saudization law.

©2011 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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