Universal Health Care law to benefit Ilonggos, says Baronda

Team Uswag congressional candidate Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda is elated that the Universal Health Care bill has passed the bicameral conference committee Tuesday, Nov. 27, and may finally be signed by Pres. Duterte to become a law before Christmas.

“I am happy and excited that one of the landmark bills of Sen. JV Ejercito for the people will soon become a law,” said Baronda, who helped draft the bill as chief political officer of Sen. Ejercito for nearly five years until she filed her COC last October 2018.

“You know we have burned candles and had sleepless nights in crafting and revising the Universal Health Care bill. So I cannot help but feel so happy that it is just two steps away from becoming a law,” she added.

The main feature of the Universal Health Care bill is its coverage of all Filipinos under a national health insurance, which means that everyone will be covered by PhilHealth. Some 35% of the population pay PhilHealth dues as government or private employees while 65% cannot afford to pay. These people will be paid for by the government under the UHC.

“This will be a big help to the Ilonggos who have no financial capacity to enroll themselves as PhilHealth members. Under the Universal Health Care law, they will become PhilHealth members and will enjoy the benefits given by PhilHealth. That means those who have no PhilHealth now will be covered under the law and when they get sick or hospitalized they have PhilHealth to help them,” Baronda explained.

As of now, Baronda said, there are many Iloilo City residents who have no PhilHealth coverage who come to her and ask for her assistance. “We try to help them as much as possible and as long as we can. We facilitate hospital assistance in Western Visayas Medical Center and WVSU Medical Center (Don Benito). We also refer them to DSWD and PCSO. But of course, PhilHealth coverage is a big help,” Baronda added.

Ejercito, who is the principal author of the bill, meanwhile, said that the funds for the law’s first two years of implementation are guaranteed already by the Department of Health, PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The funds after that will be sourced from “Sin Taxes” or taxes from tobacco and liquors.

“I also wish to congratulate my former boss, Sen. JV Ejercito, for giving birth to this idea and for pushing us, his team, to come up with this landmark piece of legislation. He is not a medical doctor but his heart is for the poor so he has thought of this. This is actually Sen. JV’s gift for the poor,” Baronda also said.

Ejercito chairs the Senate Committee on Health. His office, through Baronda, has facilitated infrastructure projects for the biggest hospitals in Iloilo City, WVMC and WVSUMC.

SOURCE: Iloilo Metropolitan Times

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