STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan (PIA) — The provincial government of Pangasinan signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation for the Group Enrollment Program (GEP) to cover the five percent Philhealth premium contributions payment of its 2,415 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers.
PhilHealth contributions are payments made by individuals and employers to the said corporation to fund the health insurance program covering Filipinos’ medical expenses.
“Most government employees in the country have their premium payments deducted from their salaries,” Dennis Adre, vice president of PhilHealth Ilocos region, said.
Now, the provincial government will cover the premium contributions for their JO and COS workers instead of deducting the amount from their monthly salary.
This move, inked on June 24 at the Urduja House in Lingayen town, marked Pangasinan as the first province in the country to implement such a program.
This sets a new standard in enhancing employee benefits and healthcare coverage.
“Pangasinan is unique because they have undertaken to pay the premiums of their JO and COS workers,” Adre commended.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III expressed his belief in the importance of acknowledging and supporting the employees of the provincial government.
He stressed the positive impact this program would have on staff motivation and organizational performance.
“You have to take care of your workers. If they are not motivated, then the organization will be affected,” he asserted.
Rhea Mae Espiritu, an administrative aide at the Governor’s office, said in an interview that the GEP is a great help for JOs like her.
“Malaking kaginhawaan ito sa amin na hindi na ibabawas sa aming sweldo ang pambayad sa PhilHealth premium contribution upang madagdag na lamang ito sa aming pang-araw-araw na gastusin,” she said.
(It brings us significant relief since the PhilHealth premium contribution will no longer be deducted from our salaries, allowing us to use that amount for our daily expenses instead.)
Likewise, Guico is urging other provinces to do the same to ensure their workers’ well-being and the success of their administrations. (MJTAB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)
