Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, chair of CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Indigenous Peoples
BALANGA CITY — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines–Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Indigenous Peoples on Monday raised strong opposition to the imposition by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. of the mandatory contribution of overseas Filipino workers.
“We, at CBCP–ECMI, support our OFWs and raise our voice against this mandatory three percent contribution,” Bishop Ruperto C. Santos said.
The Bataan prelate said PhilHealth’s move was just an added burden to OFWs and shows lack of compassion and gives more anxiety to the overseas workers.
Santos said the coronavirus disease pandemic has brought huge problem to the world. “The ‘no work, no pay’ is also a pandemic for our much-affected OFWs and imposing a mandatory PhilHealth contribution will make them suffer more,” he said.
The bishop said the overseas workers have sacrificed so much for our country, making the economy afloat and now is the time to be considerate and be more caring for them.
But PhilHealth, he said, is doing the opposite: “The OFWs need our assistance and help but we make them suffer more with this 3 percent.”
