Healthcare is a basic public service. If we want a strong bureaucracy, we need healthy workers who deliver these public services.
We should also continue the privileges enjoyed by senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) by helping establishments provide the price discounts on goods and services. I have recently filed two separate Senate bills to protect government workers, senior citizens and PWDs.
Public servants keep the government running effectively. I filed a bill to give state workers free health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage. At present, out-of-pocket health expenses hurt family finances of government employees.
A free HMO coverage means workers can seek medical care without putting the burden on their families. This would ensure that government employees are in tip-top condition and able to perform their tasks efficiently.
Our bill seeks to make comprehensive free HMO access mandatory, so employees can seek care early and without worrying about the cost. Our public servants help the country grow and deliver services to the people. It is only proper that we look after their health, especially when they get sick or face a medical emergency.
While state workers are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), those benefits may not cover the full cost of hospital stays, treatment and other medical expenses. Workers can end up paying a big part of the bill from their own pockets.
Under Department of Budget and Management Budget Circular No. 2024-6, qualified civilian government employees can receive a medical allowance of up to P7,000 annually for HMO-type benefits. The Government Service Insurance System also offers the Ginhawa Health Assistance Loan, or G-HEALTH, which enables eligible members to pay HMO premiums through a zero-interest loan.
Our bill goes beyond those benefits. Instead of a fixed allowance or a loan, it would make free HMO coverage a standard benefit for every government worker. This means access to consultations, preventive care and treatment on top of PhilHealth.
It will ease the cost of abrupt medical bills and encourage workers to see a doctor early instead of delaying treatment because of money concerns.
Caring for the health of our public servants is an investment in the future. When they have access to good healthcare, they can focus on serving the people.
At the same time, senior citizens and PWDs deserve their prices discounts. Businesses, however, should not carry the cost alone. Under Senate Bill No. 2494, establishments could claim those discounts as tax credits instead of deductions. This will keep the benefits secure and give small businesses room to stay afloat.
This will amend Republic Act No. 9994 and Republic Act No. 7277 to allow establishments to claim mandatory senior citizen and PWD discounts as tax credits, instead of deductions.
At present, deductions do not allow businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises, to fully recover those costs.
Under the current system, businesses treat the cost of mandatory discounts as a tax deduction. They may not be able to recover the full cost under this this approach, which adds to the financial strain on establishments, especially MSMEs. Our bill would enable them to claim the cost as a tax credit, instead, so they can deduct it directly from the national internal revenue taxes they owe.
Discounts for seniors and PWDs are an important part of our social protection, but small businesses including small pharmacies, clinics, restaurants and grocery stores should not carry the whole burden. We need a fairer system that protects those who benefit and helps MSMEs stay in business.
Under our proposal, tax credits from senior citizen discounts can be carried over to later tax years, but they cannot be refunded or transferred to another party.
Protecting government workers, senior citizens and PWDs should be sustained and institutionalized. This is about taking care of our people, today and in the future.
Government workers serve us every day, and they deserve to see a physician or dentist without worrying about how to pay for it.
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Seniors and PWDs have earned their discounts, and the shops that give them should not be left to pay for the full cost. A fairer system is needed to make the discount privileges more sustainable.
When we protect government workers, senior citizens and PWDs, we build a stronger Philippine society.