Senatorial candidate Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday said the national government ought to defer the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) new contribution schedule amids the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ejercito, who principally authored the and sponsored the Universal Healthcare Law, said was against increasing the Philhealth member premiums during deliberations on the said measure.

While the pandemic is still ongoing, the former senator said the government can make the necessary adjustments to help ease the burden of COVID patients.

According to Ejercito, the state-run insurance agency can source funds from sin taxes and revenue collections of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“Di lang po sa premium tayo umaasa. Yung sin taxes, yun pong mga buwis na makukuha natin sa alcohol, sa pagsisigarilyo, sa tobacco, sa sugar-based drinks, doon po natin kinukuha ang bulk ng pondo ng (We should not rely on the premiums. The sin taxes, the levy we get from alcohol, tobacco, sugar-based drinks, we can get the bulk of the funds for the) Universal Healthcare Act,” Ejercito said during a virtual interview with blogger Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

“Pati po yung sa PAGCOR at PCSO, yung kanilang social fund, sa halip na sila po ay magdisburse, sa halip na tao ang pumupunta at pumipila sa kanila, dapat po sa Universal Healthcare na po lahat (Even PAGCOR and PCSO, their social fund can be used. So that instead of them disbursing, instead of the people going to them, all funds should be directed to the Universal Healthcare),” he said.

“Para iisa nalang ang pondo, na hindi na kailangang pumila ng tao sa kung saan-saang ahensya. Nandun na po sa ospital, nakaready (So that there would be one source of funds, that people need not endure the long queue at different agencies. It’s already available at the hospitals, all ready),” he added.

He pointed out that through these sources of funding, the Universal Healthcare Law was able to expand the healthcare packages that members are entitled to.

“Naglevel up naman din po yung packages ng PhilHealth (PhilHealth’s packages leveled up) because of the Universal Healthcare Law,” Ejercito said.

He also noted that at the height of the pandemic, almost all COVID patients were covered by PhilHealth. F

“From P30,000, yun pong pneumonia, pag nagsevere pneumonia, as much as P300,000; pag naintubate kayo, may nakakuha ng (for those who were intubated, some were able to get) as much as P800,000,” he added.

Should he win a fresh term in the Senate in the upcoming May 2022 elections, Ejercito said he will monitor the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law.

“Malalaman lang talaga natin yung mga implications pag implemented na yung batas (We will know the implications of implementing the law). We have to make the necessary adjustments. We have to adapt to the situation,” he said.