Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to simplify requirements for college students as schools return to face-to-face classes.

Go said the government should keep in mind that most people are still having a hard time adjusting to the new normal as students transition from distance learning back to in-person classes.

The Senate Committee on Health and Demography chair is referring to Resolution 164 of the IATF that states only fully vaccinated students with health insurance coverage are allowed to participate in in-person classes which have been permitted by the government in areas under Alert Level 1.

Universities and colleges in areas under said classification may conduct physical classes at full capacity.

But Go clarified that the insurance requirement does not have to come from a private provider, saying that students aged 21 and up may enroll in PhilHealth if they do not have the financial means to pay higher premiums.

On the other hand, students under the age of 21 may be considered as their parents' or legal guardians' dependents.

“'Yung insurance naman po, hindi dapat private. So ibig sabihin, PhilHealth insured ka diyan. Dahil mayroon ka ng PhilHealth, 'yung mga 21 years old and above eh miyembro ka na po. Indigent ka, miyembro ka na po (The insurance need not be private. You can be insure under the PhilHealth. If you have PhilHealth, those 21 years old and above are already members. If you are an indigent, you are a member),” said Go in a recent interview.

“‘Yung dependents naman less than 21 years old 'yung mga dependents nila, puwede niyo nang gamiting insurance 'yon, (Dependents wo are less than 21 years old can already use that as an insurance),” he added.

At the same time, Go urged students to take advantage of their PhilHealth insurance, which is granted by Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Law, signed into law by President Duterte in 2018.

The senator stressed that getting vaccinated can be considered as the “best insurance” and viable way to better protect Filipinos from the virus for the time being as it also provides protection against the risk of contracting COVID-19.

“‘Pag bakunado ka, mas insured ka not only sa papel but 'yung kalusugan mo mas more insured ka na hindi ka mahahawa at magkasakit o mamatay dahil sa Covid-19 (If you’re vaccinated, you are more insured not only on paper but your health makes you more insured as it won’t prevent you from contracting or getting ill or dying due to Covid-19),” Go reiterated.