MANILA, Philippines - Photographs of candidates in the upcoming May elections will not be printed on the identification cards (IDs) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said yesterday he will not allow politicians to use PhilHealth for their political agenda.
“I don’t see the need to have those pictures on PhilHealth cards. It’s not necessary because we are already giving due recognize to the (local and nation) leaders that sponsor members,†said Ona, who is concurrent president and chief executive officer of PhilHealth.
Ona noted that the enrollment of indigent Filipinos into PhilHealth is mandated by law, so local officials should not claim credit and print their pictures on PhilHealth IDs.
The agency drew widespread criticism when it distributed IDs bearing the picture of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prior to the 2004 polls.
When President Aquino took office, he banned the posting of his photographs on signs of government projects such as bridge and road construction.
According to Ona, the distribution of PhilHealth cards should be done by the agency in coordination with the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and Health.