ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro echoed the call of teachers to suspend the PhilHealth premium hike.

The lawmaker said the increase in premium will disrupt teachers’ payment of loans and other bills.

“We strongly urge the suspension of the PhilHealth premium hike amid the soaring prices of basic goods, commodities and services. The hike has already caused the failure of payment of teachers’ loans with their measly salaries barely sufficient for their daily needs following the implementation of the premium hike last June 15,” Castro said.

The Makabayan bloc filed at the House of Representatives Joint Resolution 34 in January 2021 mandating the immediate suspension of the increase in PhilHealth premium amid the Covid19 pandemic.

“Maraming mga guro ang nasa P5,000 na lang ang net take home pay. Ikakaltas pa ang dagdag na premium sa Philhealth na makakaapekto sa kanilang loan monthly payments. Bukod sa dagdag na bayarin para sa naghihirap nating mga kababayan, nagdudulot pa ito ng mas malaking problema na may domino effect sa mga bayarin ng mga guro. Mababaon na naman sa utang ang ating mga teachers na siyang nagtataguyod ng edukasyon sa ating bansa sa limitadong tulong at suporta mula sa ating gobyerno,” Castro said.

“Hindi rin naman nasasagot sa pangangailangan ng medical ng mga guro at pamilya ang mga benepisyo ng PhilHealth at kahit ang annual at medical check-up ng mga teachers na sa PhilHealth budget inilalagay ay hindi buong napapakinabangan kung hindi pahirapan pa ang pag-avail,” she stressed.

The lawmaker said the government must prioritize wage hikes for workers instead of imposing increases in contributions.