Pacquiao pushes for free PhilHealth coverage for college students

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Senator Manny Pacquiao will push for free PhilHealth coverage for all college students should he win the presidential race in Eleksyon 2022.

"Ilibre na lang 'yung PhilHealth. Bilyun-bilyon naman 'yung budget sa PhilHealth, ninanakaw lang eh. Wala ngang nakulong eh," Pacquiao said at a media briefing here.

(The PhilHealth coverage should be free. Billions of pesos were allotted to PhilHealth, only to be stolen. No one was even jailed.)

"Huwag na silang pagbayarin, ilibre na lang ng gobyerno. Kung ako ang maging pangulo, wala silang sasaguting bayad, sasagutin ng gobyerno 'yan," he added.

(College students should not be required to pay but the government should shoulder their coverage. If I were to become president, they will not pay any fee, the government will take care of it.)

Pacquiao made the comment after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases required college students to be enrolled in PhilHealth coverage as more colleges and universities start holding face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kaya galit na galit ako diyan sa PhilHealth na 'yan na kalaki-laking pera ang nawala, bilyun-bilyon. Bakit ako nagagalit diyan sa PhilHealth na anomalya? Kasi 'yang PhilHealth hindi naman sa pangmayaman 'yan eh. 'Yang PhilHealth ginawa 'yan para sa mga mahihirap, 'yung mga isang kahig, isang tuka, 'yung hindi maka-afford. Tapos nanakawan mo?"

(I am really angry at PhilHealth following the incident where lots, billions of money were lost. Why am I angry at the PhilHealth anomaly? Because PhilHealth is not for the rich. PhilHealth was created for the poor, for those who live from hand to mouth, those who can't afford it. Then government officials will steal?)

"Talagang ang tibay naman ng sikmura ng mga ganiyang mga tao (Truly these people are insensitive)," he added.

Under the IATF's policy, students who are younger than 21 are dependents of parents who are PhilHealth members.

But a PhilHealth member who has a job and a salary must provide a contribution of P300 per month.

For most students who are unemployed they can register as indigents, including those who cannot afford to pay, medical insurance will be provided free.

Some parents said they are in favor of registering their children in PhilHealth, noting that the government should pay for the children’s contribution.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), on the other hand, said the financial burden would pass to the students instead of the government providing free medical treatment. — RSJ, GMA News