Day: April 3, 2024

MANILA: The chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee is eyeing a more aggressive seniors health insurance system, using around PHP40 billion in excess funds based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) absorptive capacity as a potential financing source.

In a statement on Wednesday, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he is exploring a separate insurance fund for acute or catastrophic health care among the elderly.

“The unfilled gap is in acute or catastrophic health care. Without insurance, such medical expenses can be ruinous to ordinary families with senior citizens. The very limited case rates under PhilHealth’s (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) existing packages simply won’t do,” Salceda said.

He said the DOH unspent funds can be allocated to finance senior citizen healthcare in addition to PhilHealth’s excess reserves.

“The risk profile is different so the fund also has to be different. The fiscal resources for health are not yet exhausted. The absorptive capacity of the DOH to spend it in fu
ll typically falls short. There’s usually around PHP40 billion in excess funds that can be used to support a more aggressive seniors health insurance system,” he added.

Salceda said the primary issue in senior citizen welfare is how to address increasing needs for specialized services while balancing decreasing personal incomes due to retirement.

“That naturally produces a gap in personal capacity to finance not just healthcare, but even basic necessities and the little pleasures that come with dignified old age,” he said.

Salceda said the average senior makes around PHP3,000 per month, which keeps around 47 percent of them below the poverty line.

“The welfare gap –or what we need to give all seniors a decent life- is around PHP9.1 trillion,” he said.

Salceda further said around 18 percent of the welfare gap, or about PHP1.64 trillion, is the healthcare financing gap.

Within that healthcare financing gap, he said, PhilHealth already devotes its resources to primary and supportive healthcare, but the un
filled gap on catastrophic healthcare expenditure needs to be addressed.

“The problem of access to senior citizen healthcare is structural, but it should be addressed alongside other issues with senior citizen welfare,” he added.

In March, the Departments of Trade and Industry, of Agriculture and of Energy signed a joint administrative order increasing the special discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) on the purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) from PHP65 to PHP125 per week.

This translates to a new purchase cap of PHP2,500, compared to the previous limit of PHP1,300 per week.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MALASIQUI: The Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) is urging parents to have their children immunized with routinary and booster vaccines after the province recorded three confirmed cases of pertussis as of April 1.

Provincial health officer Dr. Cielo Almoite, in a virtual forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Pangasinan on Wednesday, said the three patients have already recovered after their confinement at the Baguio General Hospital.

Almoite said the patients, aged one to six, are from the towns of San Nicolas and Sto.Tomas , and Urdaneta City.

She said none of the close contacts of the patients were infected with pertussis.

‘Vaccination is very important since (the) pertussis vaccine is given to children below one year old,’ Almoite said in Filipino.

She said children, especially those who are malnourished, are susceptible to pertussis since they have low immune systems.

In an interview on Wednesday, Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) med
ical officer Dr. Rheuel Bobis said they are now investigating how the children were infected with pertussis.

He said DOH-CHD-1 and the health offices in the provinces are also conducting continuous surveillance and epidemiologic investigation, intensifying routinary immunization through provision of vaccine and vaccine-related logistics and information drives on the prevention, detection, and treatment of pertussis.

Bobis said vaccines for measles, rubella, pertussis and other vaccine-preventable diseases are available for children for free at government hospitals and health centers.

“They (health workers) used to do the routinary vaccination every Wednesday at health centers but do it every day now to accommodate the population,” he added.

Pertussis can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, is highly infectious, and has a high mortality since it can cause severe pneumonia especially among children but can be prevented through vaccination.

“(Vaccines are) given in three doses to infants at their s
ix, 10 and 14 weeks old,” Bobis said, adding that adults may also avail of booster shots.

Symptoms include coughing with a whooping sound that lasts for more than two weeks, accompanied by vomiting due to excessive and forceful coughing.

Patients need to be treated in a hospital.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Education (DepEd) Wednesday said 3,954 schools nationwide have already shifted to alternative delivery modes (ADM) due to hot weather conditions.

In a statement, the DepEd said the suspension of in-person classes in 12 regions has affected 1,393,806 learners as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

In Metro Manila, 183 schools have shifted to ADM, particularly in Caloocan, Malabon, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, and San Juan City.

The highest number of schools implementing ADM was recorded in Western Visayas, reaching 990 schools; followed by Soccsksargen with 801 schools; Central Visayas with 694 schools; and Ilocos Region with 581 schools.

The DepEd also said 199 schools have suspended face-to-face classes in Central Luzon, 162 in Eastern Visayas, and 148 in Bicol Region while less than a hundred schools in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Romblon, and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), and in Zamboanga Peninsula.

No suspension of in-pers
on classes, meanwhile, was reported in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The Task Force El Niño has earlier urged local government units (LGUs) to implement a shift to ADM to ensure the welfare of teachers and learners amid the effects of scorching heat.

The DepEd also said school heads have the authority to order school suspensions.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LEGAZPI CITY: The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) reported on Wednesday the seizure of almost PHP22.7 million worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of 124 drug personalities during 125 drug operations conducted by police units in the six provinces of the region in March this year.

Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO5 spokesperson, said in a report that the seized illegal drugs consisted of 204 grams of marijuana and 3.3 kg. of shabu.

Some 210 cases were filed against the arrested drug violators.

Among all the provinces and independent component cities, Sorsogon recorded the highest amount of seized drugs at nearly PHP14.4 million followed by Naga City, PHP2.6 million; and Camarines Sur, PHP2.4 million.

Calubaquib said the seizure of illegal drugs and the subsequent arrests underscore the commitment of PRO5 led by Regional Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon in combating the scourge of narcotics in the region.

“The relentless efforts of the unit, in collaboration with local communities, remain pivotal in saf
eguarding the well-being of our citizens and preserving the rule of law. As we continue our fight against the illicit drug trade, we urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that may endanger our communities. Together, let us strive towards a safer and drug-free environment for everyone,” she added.

Calubaquib also said the police in Bicol has arrested the region’s second-most wanted individual.

Alias “Ex,” a 20-year-old resident of Barangay Camangahan, Balatan, Camarines Sur, was located by lawmen in Barangay Langkaan, Dasmariñas, Cavite on Tuesday morning and swiftly taken into police custody.

No bail was recommended for the suspect who is facing murder charges.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Leaders of the country’s top business organizations have expressed openness to a lawmaker’s proposal that employees be given special or unscheduled breaks from work during times of severe heat, but said employers should be given a free hand on its implementation.

In an interview on Wednesday, Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), said the proposed ‘heat breaks’ should not be made compulsory nor should it be legislated.

He was reacting to a proposal by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III seeking additional rest periods for workers during times of intense heat and the enforcement of occupational heat safety and health protocols.

Pimentel said the Philippines should take its cue from the government of the United Arab Emirates, which mandates that employees be allowed special breaks when it gets too hot.

However, Ortiz-Luis said that passing another labor law that allows for more breaks creates opportunities for abuse.

‘No one is more co
ncerned about employees’ welfare than their employers. If workers begin suffering heat strokes… work will stop and productivity will plummet. Maybe the government can issue guidelines… but each company must be permitted to implement occupational heat safety and health protocols in accordance with the specific conditions in their company,’ he told the Philippine News Agency.

Ortiz-Luis said only workers whose jobs require them to be exposed to the sun for extended periods of time are truly vulnerable, and they are the only ones who should benefit from the special ‘heat breaks.’

Jesus Arranza, chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), said he will support the granting of special work breaks when temperatures run too high ‘because it is management’s responsibility to look after its workers.’

However, Arranza said the types of work that can be covered by the proposed new labor policy must be clearly defined.

‘There are studies showing a direct correlation between the heat and workers’ product
ivity. Allowing your employees to rest when it is really hot is a good management decision because employees exhausted from the heat will not be productive. But office employees… those working in air-conditioned rooms or stores should not be considered for this,’ he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The head of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is hoping that the soon-to-be new operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) would prioritize interconnectivity and digitalization.

“Like in airports of other countries, interconnectivity really helps. For us in PAL, we have our international flights at Terminal 1 and domestic at Terminal 2, so this would really be helpful for the passengers,” PAL president Stanley Ng told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

He said trains would be an efficient mode to interconnect and for the passengers to head to different places. Currently, buses are used to transport passengers to the different NAIA terminals.

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (formerly SMC SAP and Co. Consortium) will operate and rehabilitate the airport starting September.

Ng believes the new management would also focus on digitalization and improvement in infrastructure.

“We have a national ID. We could use biometrics as these could both provide more convenience to
the riding public,” Ng said, as he expressed high hopes on the improvements the new management could bring.

Boosting Thailand connectivity

Meanwhile, Ng said PAL is open to Thailand’s “two-country, one-destination” initiative, wherein both governments will ramp up promotions and encourage foreign tourists visiting either of the two states to have the Philippines or Thailand as their second stop.

“It’s a good (idea). We market together with the DOT (Department of Tourism) in promoting the domestic destinations,” he said when asked for his comment on the Thailand government’s suggestion, which includes having direct flights between Cebu and Phuket.

“We need the government’s support in launching new routes. Cebu and Phuket, their beaches, are both attractive to tourists,” he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency