Press Release
April 24, 2016

POE WANTS OFWs TO BE ABLE TO USE PHILHEALTH CARD ABROAD

To protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) all over the world, independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe is pushing for the portability of the government's health insurance benefits.

During the third and final PiliPinas Presidential Debate at the Phinma-University in Pangasinan, Poe said the government must work to make the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) card accepted by health institutions facilities abroad so that Filipinos can seek treatment wherever they are.

"Magkakaroon tayo ng portable PhilHealth card na pwede ninyong gamitin saan man sa mundo. Bakit? Dahil ang binibigay ninyong buwis sa ating bayan o kita sa ating bayan ay 26 billion dollars. Sa VAT pa lang nun, P150 billion pesos na pwede nating gamitin sa inyo," Poe said.

The senator said expanding the government's health insurance coverage is a way to repay OFWs for their contribution and sacrifices that have kept the Philippine economy strong.

Poe also said that OFWs deserve red carpet treatment starting at the time of departure.

"Ang terminal fees, dapat wala na yung mga OFW natin pero kailangan pa nilang i-refund at binibigyan pa natin sila ng problema. Dapat red carpet treatment, huwag pakialaman ang balikbayan box at huwag tamnan ng bala ang kanilang maleta," she said.

The senator also proposes bilateral talks with countries with policies that are prejudicial to the Filipino worker. The government, she said, must also keep its lines open and have a 24-hour hotline for OFWs.

There are 2.3 million documented OFWs all over the world but migrant groups have placed the OFW population at 10 million, including undocumented migrants.

Poe said her ultimate goal is to make the economy stronger so that Filipinos abroad can finally come home.

"Ang aking gusto talagang gawin ay ihanda ang ating ekonomiya para kung gusto ninyong umuwi ay may trabaho kayo. Lalago ang ating ekonomiya para hindi ninyo na kailangang umalis at kung umalis man kayo ay dahil ito sa kagustuhan ninyo," Poe said.

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