OFWs denounce transfer of Medicare fund

Overseas Filipino workers’ groups based in Hong Kong denounced yesterday the "underhanded and clandestine" transfer of the OFW Medicare Fund from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The transfer was authorized by Executive Order (EO) 182, which was signed by President Arroyo on Feb. 14.

"The real issue is the fact that the OFW Medicare Fund was tossed around by the Philippine government even without the express approval of the OFWs who own the fund," said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairwoman of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK).

She added that the President’s "treacherous signing of EO 182 has magnified the distrust of the OFWs in her sincerity to serve us."

Other board members and officials shunned the lone OFW representative in the OWWA board of trustees who has consistently objected to the transfer, Regalado said.

During a recent forum held at the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong, PhilHealth president and CEO Francisco Duque admitted the "oversight" in not consulting with the OFWs and tried to divert the discussion by comparing OWWA’s services with that of PhilHealth, she said.

The participants in the forum, mostly Filipino workers, disputed Duque’s claim that EO 182 was on hold. Regalado cited the case of an OFW from Iloilo whose child fell ill with dengue. The worker tried to claim Medicare assistance last June 29, but was given a PhilHealth form, instead of one from OWWA, to fill up.

"Do not take us for fools. We know how eager the President is in moving the said fund to PhilHealth," she said.

UNIFIL also demanded that Duque explain his letter to the President dated November 2002, which said the fund transfer would have a significant impact on the 2004 elections.

Duque replied that it was "moot and academic," and that he only meant that the transfer would give a "good image for the government."

"Such a lousy excuse for a blatant political statement. Now that news of Mrs. Arroyo’s bid for the presidency in 2004 is gaining ground, we fear that the OFW Medicare Fund that came from our toil will be used for self-serving political purposes," Regalado said.

She added that the fund transfer is the government’s way of relieving "itself of its responsibility to provide better services to OFWs. If they are so concerned with OWWA, then improve the services of the OWWA."

Regalado also challenged the President, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and OWWA administrator Virgilio Almario to claim responsibility for "this grave affront to the right of OFWs to chart the course of the OFW Medicare Fund."