The lower chamber has overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading a measure empowering the President to suspend the increase in premiums of “direct contributors” of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), including employees. Deputy Speaker and Cebu 6th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco, who presided over plenary session Tuesday, March 21, said 273 congressmen voted in favor of House Bill (HB) No. 6772 during nominal voting. Three solons voted in the negative, while there were zero abstentions. Speaker Martin Romualdez, principal author of the measure, said the suspension of the increase would result in some savings for millions of government and private sector workers, professionals, self-employed, and other Philhealth contributors who are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. He said daily wage earners and many employees, who comprise the majority of Philhealth members, would save at least P50 a month or P600 a year from their health insurance premium payment if the adjustment were suspended. Those earning more will naturally save more, noted the Leyte 1st district congressman. “Suspending the imposition of the new Philhealth premium rates will provide a much-needed relief during national emergencies or calamities and will assure Filipinos that the government is sensitive to their sentiments in this difficult time,” Romualdez and his co-authors said in filing the bill. The bill amends Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, which was enacted in 2018. It's also known as the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. Under RA No. 11223,  the contributions will go up this year from 4 percent to 4.5 percent, or from the minimum monthly premium of P400 to P450. The rate will further increase to 5 percent starting next year. The Speaker’s co-authors are Majority Leader Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre of party-list group Tingog Sinirangan. Their proposed amendment states: “The President of the Philippines may, upon recommendation of the Philhealth board, suspend and adjust the period of implementation of the scheduled increase of premium rates during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires.” The amendment would be a new paragraph under Section 10 of the law. In HB No. 6772, Romualdez and his four co-authors cited the objective of the UHC Act itself, which is to “ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk". “The intent of the law is clear and cannot be overemphasized. Filipinos need and deserve a comprehensive set of health services that are cost-effective, high quality, and responsive to the requirements of all citizens,” they said. Based on PhilHealth’s computation for this year, they said those earning P10,000 and below would pay a premium of P450, those with an income of more than P10,000 up to P89,999.99 would contribute P450 to P4,050, while those making P90,000 or more would chip in P4,050. “While PhilHealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members,” they added. They pointed out that the nation has barely recovered from losses and difficulties caused by the pandemic, as many businesses have not yet reopened and many people remain jobless.