Makabayan legislators file bill to make PhilHealth payments voluntary for OFs

By Daisy CL Mandap

Makabayan legislators on an online press conference today

Members of the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives have filed a bill pushing for voluntary membership in PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Co) for all overseas Filipinos.

House Bill No 6698 filed today, May 7, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal order suspending the implementation of the mandatory collection of PhilHealth contribution from OFWs is merely a temporary relief.

“Suspending the PhilHealth premium increase only temporarily relives the overseas Filipinos of the additional burden. There is a need to truly unburden the overseas Filipinos by allowing voluntary membership, removing the “double” payment, compounded interest for unpaid premium, and unjust premium increases by amending certain provisions of the Universal Health Care Law," said the bill.

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Those who signed the motion were Bayan Muna Representatives Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Party-List Rep. Sarah Elago.

Two days earlier, the group also filed House Bill No 00827 directing the House Committee on Health to conduct an urgent review of RA 11223, saying there is no need for PhilHealth to raise its premiums.

“PhilHealth should not be allowed to impose a premium rate hike, considering that it has Php97 billion reserve funds and net income of Php11.6 billion in 2018, not to mention its investment portfolio at Php149 billion,” said the resolution.

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Duterte froze the forced collection of PhilHealth fees on May 4, after more than 500,000 OFWs all over the world signed two online petitions denouncing the new exaction.

His spokesman, Harry Roque, said payment by OFWs would be on voluntary basis while the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

“Sa ngayon po, habang meron tayong krisis, ang naging desisyon ng Presidente, huwag na muna tayong magpataw ng karagdagang pahirap sa ating mga OFWs, lalong lalo na sa panahon na napakadami sa kanila ang nare-repatriate at nawalan na rin ng trabaho,” Roque said.

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Migrants groups, especially those in Hong Kong which have been protesting against the mandatory collection since the start of the year, are not appeased. They say the order does not carry much weight as it was issued only verbally, and because it is not enough to invalidate a law that the president himself signed.

The mandatory collection of premiums from OFWs is part of Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Healthcare Act, which is meant to provide free health care to all Filipinos, including the indigents.

 

R.A. 11223's last page showing Duterte's signature

The measure was signed into law by President Duterte on Feb 20, 2019. Subsequently, its Implementing Rules and Regulations was signed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and became effective on Dec 10, 2019 or 15 days after its publication.

The scheme is mainly funded by direct government subsidy, a budget allocation from the Department of Health, proceeds from the so-called sin tax, 50% of net income of the Philippine Games and Amusement Corporation (Pagcor) and 40% of incomes from the Charity Fund and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

On top of this, the law expanded PhilHealth’s membership to include migrant workers. In the IRR, even Filipino residents abroad or those holding dual citizenship were included in the list of contributors. The IRR also tied the collection of premiums from OFWs to the overseas employment certificate, which they need to exit the Philippines.

As direct contributors, OFWs are made to pay both the employer’s and the employee’s share. And for 2020, this amounts to 3% of the income of those earning between P10,000 and Php60,000 per month.

The rate increases by half a percentage per year, until it reaches 5% in 2024, with the income ceiling raised to Php100,000.

 

OFWs as direct contributors must pay PhilHealth premium based on this table

Previously, OFWs who were PhilHealth members, paid only Php2,400 a year.

For a Filipino domestic worker who earns the minimum wage in Hong Kong, the new fees means premium payment going up to Php10,800 a year, or a four-fold increase.

Those who make the ceiling income of Php60,000 will be paying twice that amount, of Php21,600.

The worldwide migrant organization Migrante International, welcomed the Makabayan bloc’s twin moves to alleviate the impact on OFWs of the mandatory PhilHealth payments.

“We are very grateful to the Makabayan bloc in Congress for raising the collective sentiments of Filipino migrants against the mandatory Philhealth exaction,” said Migrante chair Joanna Concepcion.

“This was signed and approved by President Duterte himself and even without the scourge of the COVID-19 crisis, OFWs will surely oppose this unjust and extortionate law.”

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CA cuts sentence of Andrea Bayr’s killer to 10 years

By Vir B. Lumicao

Andrea Bayr was savagely killed by her Pakistani boyfriend with an electric drill

The Court of Appeal has replaced the life sentence of the Pakistani guard who killed Austrian-Filipina Andrea Bayr with 10 years imprisonment, after downgrading the charge from murder to manslaughter.

The court made up of Justices Andrew Macrae, Ian McWalters and Derek Pang accepted the defense submission that Safdar Husnain killed his 25-year-old girlfriend in a drug-fueled psychotic rage.

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Husnain, 30, used an electric drill to kill Bayr on Mar 29, 2016 in a construction site in Tuen Mun.

The justices accepted a second report from a government psychiatrist that affirmed Husnain’s insanity when he killed Bayr. 

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Husnain, through his lawyer David Boyton, mounted the appeal in November last year, arguing that High Court judge Kevin Zervos was wrong in ignoring the psychiatrist’s report.

Judge Zervos sentenced Husnain to life on Jan 31, 2018 after a jury voting 6-1, found the Pakistani guilty of murder.

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“This is a brutal and horrific killing. She had several wounds. She had a drill bit protruding from a wound in her face,” said Zervos before meting out the sentence.

The judge said it was the jury that rejected the defense case that the killing was unintentional and relied instead on the testimony of prosecution witness Haresh Khan, a friend of Husnain; and on a separate report by forensic expert Dr Lam Chi-chung.

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Hongkongers rush to get free Cu face masks from govt

By The SUN

The CuMask is reusable and has 6 layers of protective materials

A total of 1.38 million Hong Kong residents have applied to get the free reusable mask from the government, only eight hours after the website for this purpose opened today, May 6.

After just two hours, 170,000 people had successfully completed their registration, said Alfred Sit, secretary for Innovation and Technology, which is handling the distribution of the so-called Cu face masks.

The CuMask is made of six layers of materials, two of which are specially made with small quantities of copper, which can stop bacteria, common viruses and other harmful substances. Its six layers serve an effective barrier to droplets.

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Sit told a radio program that the system was operating smoothly, and advised people not to rush as there will be enough masks for everyone.

The registration opened today and will last until Jun 6.

Everyone with a valid Hong Kong ID card is entitled to get the mask (meaning, including migrant workers and other temporary workers), except babies and infants. The mask will be mailed and should reach the applicant’s home within two weeks.

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Students in primary schools and kindergartens will receive child- and child (small)-sized mask later through their schools.

Each registration can be for a maximum of 6 people, including one main registrant aged 18 or above and five additional people. But each resident can register only once, as the system will reject duplicated registrations.

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Those who missed the online registration may still go to the Post Office in person and present their HKID to receive the mask after the one-month online registration has ended.

To apply, click this link: https://www.qmask.gov.hk/

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New crowd control rules set as HK again posts no new Covid-19 case

By The SUN

Restaurants may now sit 8 to a table, but bars are still limited to just 4 per table, with no live entertainment & dancing

The government has released new guidelines for public venues that are set to reopen on May 8, including limiting the number of people to be allowed in cinemas and pubs to half their regular capacity, and prohibiting live entertainment and dancing in bars.

The move comes as no new Covid-19 case was again recorded today, leaving the total tally steady at 1,041.

Set to reopen from 12am on Friday are:

(1) amusement centers
(2) fitness centers
(3) places of amusement;
(4) places of public entertainment;
(5) beauty parlors
(6) massage establishments
(7) mahjong tin kau premises

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The following will remain closed for another 14 days:
(1) bathhouses
(2) party room;
(3) night clubs
(4) karaoke bars

Closed until May 20:

(1) barbecue sites

(2) camp sites

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For bars, the following restrictions will be enforced:

(1) number of customers must not be more than half the normal capacity in the premises

(2) no more than four persons shall be seated together

(3) no live performance and dancing will be allowed

For restaurants, however, the maximum number of people who can sit and eat together has been increased from four to eight, but the table should still be at least 1.5 meters apart. Diners must wear mask unless eating or drinking.

Karaoke activities in any setting or premises will continue to be suspended.

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For cinemas, the following rules shall apply:

(1)The number of seats can only be 50% of the maximum capacity

(2)No more than 8 people can sit in each row of seats

(3)No eating or drinking is allowed inside the theater

(4)After each screening, the theater must be cleaned and disinfected

For beauty and massage parlors:

(1) Staff must wear masks and other protective gears at all times

(2) Towels and capes must be changed after each use

(3) Steam machines and vaporizers are prohibited

For fitness centers:

All equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after each use

For games centers:

No adjacent game stations may be played at the same time

For pool halls, bowling alleys and ice skating rinks:

(1) Alternate lanes should be used

(2) No more than 8 persons can join each private lesson

For mahjong parlors:

(1) No adjacent tables shall be occupied

(2) Entire set of tiles must be cleaned each time a new player joins the game

For group gatherings:
(1) The number of persons allowed in each group gathering in public places will be relaxed from four to eight.
(2) Exempted from this rule are (a) different functions of the judiciary; (b) wedding ceremonies where no food or drink is served, the number allowed will rise from 20 to 50; (c) shareholders’ meetings where no food or drink is served, where no more than 50 persons can occupy a room or partitioned area.

To attract customers after the long lockdown, movie houses have been offering discounts of up to 50% off the regular ticket price, and offering discount packages.

The cheapest tickets on offer are those from Emperor Cinema, where tickets at its Tuen Mun venue will go down to $33, after the 50% discount.

Broadway Circuit is also offering half-price tickets from May 8 until July 31. However, the regular half-price discounts for morning screenings and on Tuesdays, will still be deducted from the regular ticket price.

But Broadway is taking extra precautions by requiring movie viewers to wear masks and to have their body temperature taken. Those found with temperature exceeding 37.5 will be refused entry.

UA Cinema’s promotion, on the other hand, is in the form of a new members-only discount package. Customers can purchase 5 movie tickets for only $200, which includes 4 movie ticket redemption voucher and 1 complimentary voucher. However, the promo will apply only to designated sessions from Monday to Friday.

In addition, members can enjoy a discounted ticket of $70 per ticket price on Wednesday, but only at designated cinemas. There is also a 20% discount offer on annual fees for new members.

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Displaced helpers, musicians swamp Polo for US$200 cash aid

By The SUN

Polo service counters (File photo)

Hundreds of domestic workers and musicians who either got sick of Covid-19, lost their jobs or both, have been swarming the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for the past several weeks to apply for financial aid from the government.

Hong Kong Immigration figures show the number of Filipino domestic workers who lost their jobs last month alone numbered more than 3,000. From January, the figure was almost 5,000.

As for the musicians, a total of 69 were either infected or quarantined, leading to loss of income, according to Manuela D. Lo, chairperson of the Hong Kong Musicians Union, who has been helping them with their claims.

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All of them stand to receive US$200 from the Department of Labor and Employment’s Akap Program, which is given to overseas Filipino workers who lost their incomes or jobs as a result of the pandemic.

A further US$200 is given by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as medical assistance for those who were stricken with Covid-19.

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Mark Anthony Balcueva, drummer of an all-Filipino band that played at bars in Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui, says he was one of those who received the relief aid from both OWWA and Dole after his recovery from Covid-19.

“Ang bilis nga po, e. Pagkatapos kong mag-file ng claim, isang araw lang ay binigay na,” he said.

Balcueva is unsure when he can start working again after Covid-19

Balcueva spent 18 days in Ruttonjee Hospital where he was taken after being stricken with Covid-19 on Mar 25. After his recovery and discharge, he still faces uncertainty even as bars are set to reopen on Friday, since they are still forbidden from having live entertainment.

Lo said 20 Filipino musicians were infected when the virus swept through four bars – Insomnia in Central, Dusk Till Dawn and Centre Stage in Wanchai, and All Night Long in Tsim Sha Tsui – during the last week of March.

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A further 49 suffered loss of income after they were classified as close contacts of those who fell ill, and put in quarantine centers for 14 days.

Some of those who got sick are still in hospital and so have been unable to file claims, she said. Of those quarantined, she said “some need to wait because Polo has reached its quota, and is still waiting if more funds will come from Manila,”

 

HKMU's Lo has been helping the stricken musicians file for financial aid

Lo says she’s “very pleased” with how OWWA has responded to the musicians’ request for assistance.

The figures for the domestic workers who have applied and/or received the financial grants are more murky because Polo officers decline to release information to the media without prior approval from the Dole head office in Manila.

But at around noon today, May 6, about 25 domestic workers gathered in the conference room of the Polo offices in Wanchai, filling out application forms for the Akap program.

A cranky female staff stopped The SUN from taking pictures, saying this was no longer allowed inside the Polo offices.

But she grudgingly revealed that hundreds of workers had already availed of the cash assistance program.

“Nakapag-release na kami ng 200, magri-release pa kami ng 200,” she brusquely said, but would not give exact figures.

One of the applicants who said she was from Ilocos Norte but declined to give her name, said she was dismissed on the spot by her employers on Monday, but was given a month’s salary in lieu of notice.

Both her employers lost their jobs as a result of the economic fallout from the crisis.

“Basta na lang akong sinabihan na i-terminate na nila ako,” said the woman, who had worked for the family for just three months. (They just told me suddenly that they would terminate my contract”)

She said she had previously finished her two-year contract with another employer.

Another female helper, from Isabela, said she was the one who broke her contract because she could no longer bear to stay with her employers of just a few months.

“Lagi kaming nagsasagutan tapos ang pahinga, gabi na. Laging mainit ang ulo, wala naman akong ginagawang masama. Ginagawa mo na nga ang iyong trabaho marami laging tanong sa akin,” the helper said.

(“We always argue, and I only get to rest late night. My employer is always in a bad mood even I didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve been trying to do my job well but I’m always being asked a lot of things.”)

She however, said, that her employer agreed to let her go amicably.

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Filipina warns against pickpockets in World-Wide

World-Wide's shopping arcade remains packed on weekends and public holidays, even amid the pandemic

A Filipina domestic worker has reached out to air a warning against pickpockets in a busy shopping mall in Central, after she became a victim of one last May 1.

Gretchen Sumay said she and her mother went to World-Wide House in Central to buy food from a shop on the first floor, which they hoped to bring to nearby Chater Garden where they planned to eat. Because it was a statutory holiday, she said the shopping arcade was packed.

“Habang abala kaming namimili, hindi ko namalayan na naka open na ang sling bag ko. Bubuksan ko sana ang bag ko para bumili ng Toblerone at C2, at nagulat na lang ako na wala na ang wallet ko.”

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Luckily, she said she only had $650 in her coin purse at the time as she decided to leave the salary she just received at home. But her HKID and her Hang Seng ATM card were also inside the wallet.

“Hindi man kalakihan yung nawala sa akin…pinaghirapan ko yun, kahit ano pa ang halaga,” she said.

 

Gretchen's wallet was returned to the building management, but without the $650 inside

She and her mother immediately reported the theft to a roving security staff, who immediately accompanied them to the building’s management office.

“Luckily may nagsauli ng pitaka ko pero wala ng laman,” Gretchen related. “Sinauli na lang nila ang pitaka ko, HKID at ATM card ko. (Pero) salamat sa Diyos at sinauli nila kahit wala na yung pera.”

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But she said she was a bit disappointed that the management staff did not show her the picture of the person who returned her wallet, reportedly because “maliit lang naman daw ang nawala.”

As they were stepping out of the management office, she said they encountered another Filipina who was also about to complain about losing a wallet containing around $1,000 and her HKID card.

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Her advice to other: “Lahat po ng nagpupunta sa WorldWide, ingatan pong mabuti ang mga bag ninyo. Marami talagang mandurukot, hindi natin alam. (Katulad ko), wala akong kamalay-malay na nadukutan na pala ako. Beware po tayo.”

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Phl govt shuts ABS-CBN amid pandemic

By The SUN

This is how the station appeared on TV after it was closed down by the Duterte government.

 The Philippines’ biggest and oldest television network, ABS-CBN, went off the air at exactly 7:46pm today, May 5, after being issued a “cease and desist order” by the National Telecommunications Commission a day after its franchise lapsed.

It was the second time the 67-year-old network was silenced since 1972, when the late President Ferdinand Marcos seized it after declaring martial law. ABS was restored to its owners, the Lopez family, after the popular revolt in 1986.

It comes as the country remains locked down as part of measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and while several bills relating to the network’s franchise renewal were left pending before the House of Representatives.

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The broadcast giant shut down not only its iconic TV station, but also its five AM radio stations, 18 FM stations and 42 TV stations, in line with the NTC order.

The forced shutdown immediately drew condemnation from various institutions and individuals, many of them journalists.

A statement from the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) said in part: “The order threatens press freedom at a time when the public needs an unfettered press the most. As the Philippines reels from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, ABS-CBN’s critical eye is needed now more than ever to help inform the public.

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“The move is clearly a case of political harassment against a pillar of Philippine democracy that employs thousands of Filipinos whose livelihoods are now at risk with the order.”

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication did not mince words in laying the blame squarely on President Duterte in its statement: “Again, the current administration demonstrates the lengths it will go to silence critical media voices.”

De La Salle University made its sentiment known by lighting up its Taft campus with ABS’ bright colors.

De La Salle University laments the loss of press freedom by projecting the ABS-CBN colors on its facade. 

An outspoken lawyers’ group, Free Legal Assistance noted with a tinge of sadness: “This is how liberty dies, not with a loud bang but with dead air.”

The station stopped programming after its lead news anchors Noli de Castro, Bernadette Sembrano and Ted Failon thanked their viewers.

De Castro, who has long been identified as a supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, nevertheless struck a defiant tone by saying: “We will not remain silent on this attack to our democracy.”

This appeared in many social accounts of netizens.

Stunned netizens, many of them journalists, vented their anger, frustration and defiance on social media, calling the NTC’s order an attack on press freedom.

“Is this how we heal as one?”, asked veteran journalist Emmie Velarde.

Another journalist from the Marcos-era press, Eugenio Ramos, noted in the same thread: “It looks like a part of an undeclared martial law.”

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Pocholo Concepcion, an editor at one of the country’s dailies, proclaimed above a picture of the station’s logo, with its distinctive bright colors replaced with black and white: “I stand with ABS-CBN. Defend press freedom.”

Karen Davila, an outspoken anchor at ABS, lashed out with: “Sa dami ng problema ng Pilipinas…sa dami ng nagkakasakit sa Covid…sa laki ng problema ngayon sa ekonomiya…sa dami ng nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa Covid…talagang pagpapatigil sa ABS CBN ang inatupag nila. Hindi ko maintindihan nasaan ang puso ng mga ito.”

Even Mon Tulfo, a close ally of Duterte posted: “I was crying as ABS-CBN was bidding goodbye to the nation in the last few minutes before its closure. Yes, I shed copious tears but I’m sure millions of my countrymen were also crying. Last time I heard we’re a democratic country where freedom of the press and of speech is one of the hallmarks.”

But then he added, “But if I know President Digong he will have the network reopened in the next few days.You wanna bet?”

Just before the station went off the air, several of its officials, including President and CEO Carlo Katigbak and ABS-CBN Corporation Chair Mark Lopez, spoke during a portion of primetime news program TV Patrol.

“We are asking for your continued support so that we may continue our service through our broadcasts,” Katigbak said.

He said ABS-CBN also complied with all requirements of its franchise renewal and broke now laws.

After TV Patrol, ABS-CBN formally signed off.  DZMM’s AM and MOR’s FM radio broadcasts also fell silent, along with their online livestreams.

But the station’s overseas channel, TFC, said “it will remain and continue to deliver relevant news and information, TV shows and movies across our different channels and platforms via cable and satellite, IPTV, and TFC Online.”

NTC released the order after ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise expired on May 4. But before this, NTC sought legal advice from  the Department of Justice, which said there was “sufficient equitable basis” to allow the station to continue operating while bills for the renewal of its franchise was pending with Congress.

Lawmakers, in turn, said they were expecting NTC to release a provisional franchise to the network to give them time to discuss issues the media giant’s franchise renewal.

Despite these, NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said that its cease and desist order stemmed from “questions” about its franchise, which were among issues raised by Solicitor General Jose Calida to the Supreme Court in his quo warranto petition against the station last February.

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