THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on Tuesday assured Filipinos working overseas that payment of premiums to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is not a requirement for the issuance of overseas employment certificates.
The POEA issued the statement amid an uproar over an increase in PhilHealth premium rates for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). On Monday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte has ordered that the payment by OFWs be made voluntary. President Duterte appeared in a public address late Monday but did not say anything about the voluntary payment. It was unclear if the voluntary payment scheme would be only during the COVID-19 crisis or a permanent one.
POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia, in Advisory No. 56-2020, said the agency’s governing board “has not passed a resolution that authorizes the POEA to require OFWs to pay PhilHealth premium in their application for the issuance of OECs (overseas employment certificates).”
“As such, the public is assured that POEA systems and processes on the issuance of OECs are currently not linked with that of the PhilHealth,” he added.
The OEC or exit clearance/pass is a document certifying the regularity of recruitment of an OFW, a proof of his/her registration with the POEA, and is a requirement for their exit from the Philippines.
The advisory was issued on the heels of the public outcry over the scheduled increase of PhilHealth premium rates for OFWs, from 2.75% last year to 3% for 2020, of their monthly income.
OFW groups have also raised concerns that with regular contribution to PhilHealth being part of OEC requirements, no exit clearances will be issued to OFWs, who are unable to complete their PhilHealth contributions.
