Risa Hontiveros Using PhilHealth Contributions For Self-Promotion In 2016 Elections

PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros appears to be putting her own political ambitions over the needs of indigent patients as she spends the agency’s funds for her own commercials, which are projected as public service announcements.

This was the criticism thrown by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) at Hontiveros as PhilHealth ads featuring her continue flooding the airwaves.

TUCP estimates that the 30-second PhilHealth commercials cost at least Php442,000 plus value-added tax for each time it airs.

Former senator Ernesto Herrera, the group’s president, reminded Hontiveros that Philhealth’s governing board “has a fiduciary duty to conserve the hard-earned contributions of workers for current and future benefit payments.”

“The members of the board of directors (of PhilHealth), even if they are all political appointees, are supposed to insulate the state-run insurer and its funds from partisan political activity,” said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.

The former senator added that the money spent by PhilHealth for the TV ads would have been better spent to help upgrade the health insurance benefits of its members, especially minimum wage workers and salaried employees, considering that all workers are mandated by law to contribute up to Php437.50 per month to PhilHealth, excluding the employer’s share.

Hontiveros, who took her oath of office as PhilHealth board member only last June 30, 2015 is reportedly running for senator under the Liberal Party in the May 2016 elections.

Source: Politics