June 10, 2025
The Center for Migrant Advocacy welcomes the decision of the bicameral conference committee to defer action on the proposed amendments to RA11223 otherwise known as the Universal health Care Act of 2019.
We join colleagues in civil society in cautioning Congress from hastily amending important provisions of the law that may inadvertently defeat the very purpose of the law – that is to provide access to quality health and medical care services for all Filipinos including Filipinos overseas. To do this, a pooled fund is established from various government sources and contributions from those who have the capacity to contribute, including overseas Filipino workers.
As regards specific amendments impacting on OFWs, CMA submits the following:
- CMA supports the proposal to base the contribution of land-based OFWs on the floor wage of P10,000. It may seem inequitable since most OFWs, including those in elementary occupation like domestic workers, receive at least twice that amount at P20,000 based on the entry salary level of US$400.
However, considering that land-based OFWs have also to pay from their own pockets 100% of the SSS and Pag-Ibig premiums, pegging the UHC contribution of land-based OFWs to P10,000 is fair and equitable after all. Moreover, whatever relative increment in wages that OFWs get comes at a very high social cost to migrants and families.
- CMA does not support the proposal for government to shoulder the 50% share of foreign employers for land-based OFWs. If the law cannot be imposed and implemented in the context of OFWs, so be it! Let the OFW contributions to the UHC pooled funds be only the equivalent of 50% based on P10,000 floor level salary.
We are opposed to the idea because the proposal is denying the inapplicability of Philippine laws outside of our national jurisdiction. The logic of the shared contributions between worker and employer is skewed in this case and may set a dangerous precedent.
- Government must invest in health financing under the UHC– At the end of the day, CMA calls out the government, as duty bearer, to be the main investor to guarantee the success of the UHC, specifically in ensuring financing for the UHC.
In 2024, UHC contributions totalled P239,573,300,339 from direct and indirect contributors. The proportion of OFWs’ share was 5%.
Fifty eight percent of contributions came from workers employed in the private sector while 22% were from workers in government. If government intends to increase the share of contributions from the members, it should socialize the contributions so that those who have the capacity to give more, indeed share more.
In terms of claims, the total amount disbursed last year was P164,456,356,157 for total claims of 15,654,885. Translating these claims to members –this was a mere 15% (MAXIMUM a several claims can be for one member only) of the more than 1M Filipino members of Philhealth in 2024. One percent (1%) of these claims were from OFWs and their dependents. The total amount disbursed was 68% of the contributions collected last year. Overall however, Filipinos still cover a high 44% of their medical and health bills. Data shows that currently, government does not spend its own funds as yet to cover the health financing requirements of its members. Worse, the 44% bill balance still comes from the pockets of the members! Another observation is the small percentage of availment of Philhealth members. Does it mean that our people, overall are healthy or it is because they are not able to avail of the UHC benefits for various reasons, top most is the lack of information about the UHC programmes and services?
Apart from the contributions from members, UHC funds are financed from revenues from sin taxes, PAGCOR, PCSO, DOH and from the general appropriations act for Philhealth annual budget. All these sources of funds from government for an effective UHC implementation must not be diminished in any way. If at all, the funds allocated must be carefully monitored to ensure that the funds are sufficient for the growing health and medical needs of the population.
- Government must invest in infrastructure and health care personnel – the success of the UHC does not rest only on health financing. A companion to this is investment in health services delivery infrastructure and health personnel, giving due consideration to the archipelagic nature of the country. Health care facilities and personnel must be conspicuous not only in urban areas but especially in geographically hard-to reach communities.
At the end of 2024, Philhealth’s database of accredited health professionals has only 48,035 physicians, 25,500 of whom are medical specialists. Other professionals like dentists, nurses and midwives are at 4,170.
- As the country moves towards UHC, it is imperative that a rights-based narrative on social protection, on the right to health is effectively promoted in official communications and related documents. Social protection must not be seen as an expense by rights holders but as a state obligation to its people. In the case of OFWs, the mandatory enrollment to SSS, Pag-Ibig and UHC/Philhealth are perceived more as requirements to be complied with. The benefits and goals of these programmes are hardly reflected upon nor appreciated because perhaps the messaging is not clear.
- Finally, we reiterate that effective good governance entails due consultation with rights holders on policies that impact them and their communities.
Center for Migrant Advocacy is an independent NGO that works for the rights and welfare of OFWs—land-and sea-based—and members of their families –through policy advocacy, facilitation of assistance to distressed migrants, research, information and education campaigns, capacity building and training programmes and networking.
Contact Person: ELLENE A. SANA
Executive Director
Email: cma@cmaphils.net
Center for Migrant Advocacy 