MISTAKEN PRIORITIES

Posted by
Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 18/01/2014

 Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

In the news :  Malacanang defends Philhealth premium   hike  http://www.mb.com.ph/malacanang-defends-philhealth-premium-hike/

The Office of the Presidenty through the Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. Defended the Philhealth premium increase stating the the hike is justified by the added benefits to its members.

Philhealth will be increasing its premium rate to P2,400 for individually paying members with a monthly income of P25,000 and below while those whose income is above P25,000 will have to pay a premium of at least P3,600 annually. This will take effect this month.

PhilHealth is one of the government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) that the Commission on Audit (COA) has asked to return bonuses and allowances to executives and employees in 2012. The COA report revealed that PhilHealth received P1.6 billion, which covered increases in salaries, allowances, and benefits pursuant of formal resolution adopted by the PhilHealth board under the previous administration.

The GCG had said it has not approved increases and raise of compensation, bonuses, and allowances for PhilHealth officers and employees, noting that they cannot approve it because there is a moratorium that has been issued by the President Aquino under Executive Order (EO) No. 7.

But the government is clearly disregarding the fact that the citizens has already reached the point that they can no longer afford another increase. The salary has not increased one iota and the prices are increasing without control. An additional centavo of increase in the premiums of services like Philhealth, SSS and Pagibig would mean the difference of not eating if families must give them to the Government Owned and Contrelled Companies which are supposed to be already financed from the taxes of the citizens.

The government of the Philippines has become one giant corporation geared only in selling the services at exorbitant prices for profit and not for the service of its citizens. They cannoty use the excuse of being sahort in funds since they openly give their emplòoyees the dividends of these profits in form of fat bonuses.

The Philippine government surely has mistaken priorities.