Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8316

Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

‘This bill seeks to grant the President of the Philippines the power to suspend the
scheduled increases in Phillealth premium rates in times of national emergencies,
amending for the purpose Republic Act No, 11223, otherwise known as the “Liniversal Health
Care Act.”

The Universal Health Care Act was enacted in 2018 to “enstre that all Filipinos are
guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected
‘against financial risk.” The intent of the law is clear and cannot be overemphasized - Filipinos
need and deserve a comprehensive set of health services that are cost-effective, of high
quality, and responsive.

While we recognize that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
only aims to implement the provisions of RA 11223, imposing a higher premium rate to our
kababayans under our current conditions will definitely enforce a new round of financial
burden to its members. Suspending the imposition of the new PhilHealth premium rates
will provide a much-needed relief from the negative effects of the pandemic and will assure
Filipinos that the government is sensitive to their sentiments,

Our kababayans have barely recovered from the losses and difficulties brought by the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Even today, while some restrictions may have been
lifted, most livelihood, businesses, and other sources of income remain shuttered and
closed, while many Filipinos remain unemployed. As of October 2020, the unemployment
rate in the country still stands at 8.7% amounting to 3.8 million Filipinos in the labor force.

The social justice provisions in the 1987 Philippine Constitution were precisely drafted
and written to avoid double economic jeopardy to Filipinos during times of crises. President


Rodrigo Roa Duterte has himself supported the calls to defer the increase in PhilHealth
premium contributions.

‘These are extraordinary times and Congress must respond accordingly. In view of the
foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8316

Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

AN ACT
GRANTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES THE POWER TO SUSPEND THE
SCHEDULED INCREASES IN PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION
(PHILHEALTH) PREMIUM RATES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 11223, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 11223 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 10. Premium Contributions. - For direct contributors, premium rates shall
be in accordance with the following schedule, and monthly income floor and

ceiling:

XXX

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES MAY, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AS

CHAIRPERSON OF PHILHEALTH, SUSPEND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

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THE SCHEDULED INCREASES IN PREMIUM RATES IN TIMES OF

NATIONAL EMERGENCIES WHEN PUBLIC INTEREST SO REQUIRES.”

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,