POEA issues advisory: OEC issuance continues without PhilHealth payment

  DUBAI – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Monday (May 4) issued an advisory to clarify there is no resolution authorizing the POEA to require Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to pay PHilHealth premiums in their application for the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs). “The public is assured that POEA systems and processes on the issuance of OECs are currently not linked with that of PhilHealth and is consistent with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to ease OFWs of additional burden by suspending the collection of higher premiums from OFWs,” the POEA said. The POEA advisory, a copy of which was sent to Expatmedia.net, was signed by Bernard Olalia, POEA administrator. It was consistent with statements from Philippine consulate and embassy officials in the UAE, who told Expatmedia.net in a recent interview that OEC issuance is continuing without requiring Filipinos in the UAE to become PhilHealth members. On Monday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PhilHealth to make payments voluntary for OFWs, effectively barring the health agency to impose mandatory collection of payments.

Officials debunk fake reports of travel ban

As Expatmedia.net reported, officials have debunked fake reports on social media alleging travel restrictions for OFWs who do not pay mandatory premiums. The reports alleged that OFWs who do not pay PhilHealth premiums will not be issued OECs and will be banned from traveling. Speaking to Expatmedia.net on May 2, Labor Attache Felicitas Bay said that OECs are still being issued without requiring Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to become PhilHealth members. A source from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi also confirmed that the procedure for issuing OECs to Filipinos in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain remains the same, with applicants required to secure the standard online appointment to be accommodated. OFWs need an OEC to be able to return to their workplace after visiting the Philippines. The document is inspected upon the OFW’s departure from any Philippine airport. The POEA has so far not made PhilHealth membership as a requirement to the issuance of OEC, which means that OFWs are technically still not compelled to pay for PhilHealth coverage and can still get the OEC in order to travel out of the Philippines. Speaking to Expatmedia.net, Gemma Sotto, head of Global PCR International, the Philippine National Police’s helpline for OFWs, said PhilHealth can’t impose mandatory payments on OFWs or impose travel restrictions through the OEC from the POEA. “PhilHealth doesn’t have the right to impose mandatory through POEA. They can’t force OFWs to pay for it, according to POEA. So OEC can still be released without PhilHealth,” Sotto told Expatmedia.net. https://www.expatmedia.net/philhealth-cant-force-ofws-pay-premium-no-effect-oec-filipinos-uae-worldwide/2020/05/

Not part of UHC law

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Monday  explained that the increase in PhilHealth’s premium contribution is not in the law, but part of PhilHealth's implementing rules and regulations. “It’s not in the law that OFWs should pay additional premium,” he said, adding that PhilHealth did not consult him when it drafted its rules and regulations. PhilHealth wants OFWs to pay a 3 percent monthly premium, which it said it part of its implementation of the Universal Health Care law approved last year. Roque also assured that Duterte will not tolerate corruption within the PhilHealth and that complaints against former and current PhilHealth officials for their alleged inaction on a scam involving the issuance of fake premium receipts to OFWs are now filed before the Ombudsman. “The President has zero tolerance for corruption. There are cases filed before the Ombudsman and we are expecting the new leadership of the PhilHealth to look into these complaints,” he said. Under PhilHealth’s circular in April, “premium of overseas Filipinos shall be computed based on their monthly income, to be paid in Philippine peso equivalent, in accordance with the terms of payment and corresponding due dates as prescribed by the corporation.” The circular mandates OFWs earning a monthly income of P10,000 to P60,000 to pay 3 percent of their monthly salary, higher than the 2.75 percent in 2019. ICA/Expat Media https://www.expatmedia.net/6-things-wrong-philhealth-premiums-ofws-officials-react/2020/05/ https://www.expatmedia.net/duterte-stops-philhealth-imposing-mandatory-ofw-premiums/2020/05/
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