Romer Butuyan 
KUMBINSIDO ang isang dating punong lalawigan na may legal na batayan ang rekomendasyon ni Executive Secretary Ralph Recto sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) na bigyan ng mas maraming benepisyo ang mahigit sa 37 million “direct contributors” o paying members.
Ito ang binigyan-diin ni former Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone kasabay ng pahayag ng suporta sa hirit ni Recto sa state health insurer.
Ayon kay Evardone na nagsilbi rin bilang kinatawan ng Eastern Samar sa Kamara, sang-ayon din siya sa hiwalay na panawagan ni Recto na madagdagan Philhealth coverage para sa iba’t-ibang serbisyong medikal na ipinagkakaloob ng mga ospital na nasa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng mga lokal na pamahalaan.
Giit ni Evardone, agarang ipatupad ng Philhealth at Department of Health (DOH) ang dalawang nabanggit ba programang isinusulong ni Recto.
Aniya, ang mungkahi ni Recto na mas maraming benepisyo sa “paying” Philhealth members ay batay na rin sa nilalaman ng Republic Act 11223 o ang Universal Health Care Law.
“The law mandates Philhealth to grant more benefits to its direct contributors, who comprise 63.4 percent or majority of the state health insurer’s 58.7 million members (as of 2025),” aniya.
“Section 9 of RA 11223, which states: “Philhealth shall provide additional program benefits for direct contributors, where applicable,” dugtong ni Evardone.
Sinabi ng veteran public servant, pitong taon makaraang naisabatas ang RA 11223, ay hindi pa ipinatutupad ng PhilHealth ang nabanggit na probisyon.
“Philhealth should now obey the law and do justice to its millions of paying members and their dependents, diin ni Evardone.
Hinggil naman sa pagdaragdag ng Philhealth coverage sa LGU hospitals, sinabi ni Evardone kailangan ang tulong na ito para sa pagpapatuloy ng operasyon ng local health facilities at mapatatag din ang kanilang pinansyal na kapasidad.
“Hospital services are draining so much funds of LGUs, which, as we all know, have to fund various programs, projects and activities, including infrastructure, education and helping poor residents,” ayon kay Evardone.
“They need as much help as they can get from Philhealth for the healthcare of their constituents.”
