Makabayan Bloc moves to strike down SSS, PhilHealth automatic premium rate increases

The House Makabayan Bloc has moved to strike down the provisions in the law mandating the automatic increase in the contributions of the Social Security System (SSS) and of PhilHealth.

The six-member bloc on Tuesday filed House Bills 8310 and 8311, which respectively seek to amend the Social Security Act of 2018 and the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law to remove the provisions on the automatic increase in contribution rates.

The Social Security Act of 2018, which was passed to ensure the long-term viability of the SSS' fund life, mandates a 1% increase in the contribution of its members this year, bringing the monthly contribution rate to 13%.

Meanwhile, under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, premium contributions to PhilHealth will increase to increments of 0.5% every year, starting 2021 until it reaches the 5% limit in 2025.

For 2021, the increase in the contribution rate would be from the current 3% of the monthly basic salary of the member to 3.5%.

The Makabayan lawmakers said that these increases are a "double whammy," especially with the country's workers still suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

"It is unjust and inhumane to insist on the implementation of the premium hike under Universal Health Care Law when corruption still mars the agency and when the majority of our workers are still struggling to make ends meet amid the pandemic and severe economic crisis," the lawmakers said in a statement.

"Amid the series of calamities, it is more pressing, in fact, for SSS to implement  the long-overdue second tranche of the already approved pension hike of P1,000, instead of burdening workers who are still reeling from the effects of recession and pandemic," they added.

Apart from these measures, the Makabayan Bloc also filed a joint resolution calling for the immediate suspension of the PhilHealth premium rate hike for 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A separate joint resolution, which also calls for the deferment of the PhilHealth premium rate hike, was also filed by 54 lawmakers in the House across party lines.

"We strongly urge President Duterte to walk his talk by supporting the immediate passage of a House Joint Resolution filed by legislators, including the Makabayan Bloc members, which will defer the implementation of the Philhealth and SSS premium hikes and provide immediate relief to poverty-stricken Filipinos," the Makabayan lawmakers said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has already ordered the deferment of the PhilHealth contribution rate hike, there would be no increase in contributions amid the pandemic. — BM, GMA News