President Rodrigo Duterte, with armed forces and police officials and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, talks to one of nine policemen wounded in the Army-PNP “misencounter.” PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

“Today is historic because our country is finally giving PhilHealth coverage to every Filipino,” said one of its principal authors, KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo.

“Basta Pilipino ka, covered ka. Kahit wala kang trabaho, covered ka. Dahil sa Universal Health Care Law, lahat ng Pilipino sakop na ng PhilHealth coverage. Iyan ang makasaysayan sa batas na ito,” Salo said Wednesday after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the landmark legislation in Malacanang.

Salo’s House Bill 5120 was incorporated in the Universal Health Care Law.

The House deputy majority leader said he is confident the new law will get priority funding by the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health because the law already identifies the sources of funding for its implementation.

“Universal Health Care has been a top priority in the KABAYAN agenda and this is why we pushed hard for its enactment into law,” Salo said.

“PhilHealth coverage will vary between non-paying and paying members, but everyone gets coverage. Importante dito ang records ng civil registrar ng cities and municipalities, kaya dapat lahat ng wala pang birth certificate magpa-birth certificate na. Lahat ng bagong panganak magpa-birth certificate agad, kasi iyang birth certificate ang basehang dokumento na ikaw ay Pilipino. Gagamitin din na basehan ang national ID. Kaya siguraduhin natin na lahat tayo ay magkaroon ng national ID once maayos na ang implementasyon nito,” the congressman stressed.

The KABAYAN Party-list legislator said the new law also gives something priceless.

“Peace of mind. Iyan ang regalo ng gobyerno, partikular ng Kongreso at ni Pangulong Duterte, sa lahat ng Pilipino. Kapag may lagnat ka, ang asawa mo, magulang mo, o anak mo, kahit wala kang pera punta na agad sa ospital o pagamutan dahil doon ay mayroon kang PhilHealth coverage. Kapag masama ang pakiramdam, magpakonsulta agad sa doctor para hindi na lumala ang sakit dahil kasama rin sa Universal Health Care ang check-ups,” Salo said.

“Maraming mga Pilipino ang tinitiis na lang ang karamdaman, o kaya’y kung anu-anong ang ginagawa na wala namang basehan sa medisina o siyensiya (self-medication) dahil kapos sila sa perang pambayad sa doktor. Iyan ang nilulunasan ngayong ng Universal Health Care,” he added.

With the universal health care law, Salo said, “We will see an increase in hospital visits and consultations to the doctor. Filipinos who have never consulted a doctor in their entire life will be encouraged to visit the nearest accredited hospitals since consultations is covered by Philhealth. Over time, we will gradually see an overall improvement of our health as a nation.”

“A healthy Philippines will become a much more progressive, developed, and economically-strong nation,” Salo said.