Independent presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) might need to defer its planned premium rate hike in June to allow members whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic to recover.

Lacson said that while PhilHealth is allowed to raise its premium under the Universal Health Care Act, doing so now is untimely and not advisable.

"It is within the provisions of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act to increase, although it may not be advisable at this point in time because we are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic. Baka hindi timely (It may not be timely)," Lacson said at a press conference in Cagayan de Oro City Thursday, May 5.

"Dapat siguro i-defer na muna at hintayin maka-recover fully o somehow to a degree ang economy (It would be better to defer the hike until our economy recovers)," he added.

Under the UHC Act, the premium rates “will gradually increase” by 0.5 percent every year. In 2021, the rate hike was suspended to ease the burden on Filipinos affected by the pandemic.

But Lacson also noted that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) - which account for 99.5 percent of our enterprises - have yet to recover from the pandemic.

Increasing premium rates as scheduled would be a burden to Filipinos who are employed by such MSMEs and those who are looking for work, he added.

"Yan ang sinasabi kong untimely (That is what I meant when I said an increase at this time may be untimely)," he said.

Senatorial candidate Dr. Minguita Padilla said ‘’UHC is a good law, however itong (this) increase I don’t think it should be automatic until we reviewed what is ongoing on the PhilHealth.’’

Interviewed along with Lacson, Padilla said: ‘’During Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of funds about P3 billion was given for Covid-19, no uniform documentation, there is so much to investigate, there is also problem in the collection of premiums.’’

‘’Masyadong maraming kailangang ayusin sa loob, don’t pass it to the people (There is so much to fix at PhilHealth, don’t pass it on to the people). They should clean house first. their database and IT system also needs to be fix so ann daming mga misteryo sa loob na kailangan matignan muna (There is so much mystery at PhilHealth that needs fixing),’’ explained.

‘’Even professionals (were) charged premium. so much to be done. kailangan matignan muna, masyado mataas (This needs to be investigated, it is to high). It is in the law unless another law is passed to amend that,’’ she added.