Bill allowing president to halt PhilHealth premium increase approved by House

The bill that would have given the president of the nation the authority to halt the upcoming rate increases in the monthly contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. was approved by the House of Representatives on Tuesday during final reading (PhilHealth)

273 congressmen in total voted in favor of House Bill 6772. Only three people opposed it, and no one chose to abstain.

Suspending PhilHealth premium rates will provide relief during emergencies and assure Filipinos that the government is sensitive to their sentiments.

"While PhilHealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate imposing higher premium to Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members," the bill read. "Our countrymen have barely recovered from the losses and difficulties bought by COVID-19."

Due to the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered PhilHealth to postpone the implementation of the increase in monthly contribution from 4% to 4.5% last January.