SENATOR Nancy Binay on Monday deplored the requirement imposed by the Commission on Higher Education and InterAgency Task Force on students to secure medical insurance before attending physical classes.

“This is a cumbersome and unnecessary requirement para sa college students, considering that by law, all Filipinos are automatic members of PhilHealth. Sa totoo lang, ‘di kailangang dagdagan ang proseso, dapat nga mas simplehan pa,” she added.

Binay said that many parents were complaining about the many documentary requirements of colleges and universities before students are allowed to attend face-to-face classes.

“Kung walang maipakitang PhilHealth, hihingan ng private health insurance, plus meron pang duly-notarized waiver, health certificate, at certificate of indigency—at ‘yung iba may nire-require pang negative antigen results,” Binay added.

The government allows colleges and universities in areas under Alert Level 1 to hold face-to-face classes at full classroom capacity.

However, only fully vaccinated students with health insurance can participate in physical classes.

“Dapat ang requirement, simpleng vaxx card lang. Sinasabi ng iba, isang pindot lang ng app, at magbayad ka ng P500, may insurance ka na. May mali eh. Bakit kailangang papahirapan ang estudyante at magulang? Supposedly libre na nga dahil lahat covered ng PhilHealth,” Binay said.