UNIVERSAL Healthcare (UHC) law author Senator JV Ejercito hopes the implemented rules and regulations (IRR) for the UHC law will be fast-tracked so that Filipinos can immediately benefit from it.
Ejercito on Saturday, March 16, said that the IRR for the UHC law is currently being crafted.
“The IRR is expected to be finished 180 days (after President Rodrigo Duterte had signed the law). Pero hopefully it would be shorter para maramdaman na ng ating mga kababayan (Hopefully it would be shorter, so that the benefits will be accessed already by our fellow countrymen),” he told media during the Parada Dabawenyo.
On February 20, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the UHC bill, which mandates an automatic enrollment of Filipinos to PhilHealth and access to quality health services.
The UHC needs a total funding of more than P257 billion in its first year of implementation.
Currently, the available funds amounting to P189 billion includes P105 billion from the 2019 proposed Department of Health (DOH) budget, P67 billion from the 2019 proposed national subsidy for PhilHealth Premiums, P3 billion coming from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and P14 billion from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
However, economists are worried that the funding for it will not be enough.
Meanwhile, the senator said that the first two years for the implementation is already covered by the current budget appropriation.
Ejercito said that the Senate and the House of Representatives are targeting to pass the revised sin tax bill before the end of the regular session of both houses.
He also said that the budget for its implementation must be protected against erring officials.
“We cannot let that happen sa UHC. Magbi-bleed ang PhilHealth niyan. Iniiwasan natin ‘yung upscaling (sa funds) kasi kawawa ang mga Filipinos niyan,” Ejercito said.