Comelec allows reassignment of ‘incompetent’ PhilHealth execs

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given the go-signal for the reassignment of seven Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) officials.

The PhilHealth board previously expressed its “loss of confidence” in seven members of its executive committee due to their “observed incompetence, gross negligence and ineffective leadership which directly and adversely impacted” the state health insurer.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia granted Health Secretary and PhilHealth chairman Teodoro Herbosa’s request amid the forthcoming village and youth council elections on Oct. 30.

PhilHealth officials facing reassignment are chief operating officer Eli Dino Santos, assistant senior vice president Nerissa Santiago, SVP Jovita Aragona, SVP Renato Limsiaco, SVP Jose Mari Tolentino, SVP Dennis Mas and SVP Israel Francis Pargas.

DepEd exempt

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been exempted from the Comelec’s ban on the appointment, hiring and transfer of employees during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) period due to the “urgent need” to fill teaching positions.

DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa noted that the authorization would be limited to appointing, hiring, transferring or detailing officers and employees of DepEd in its central, regional, division and school offices.

Under the Comelec’s general BSKE guidelines, government employees including public school teachers are not allowed to be transferred or detailed from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29.

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 29, appointments and hiring of new employees in any national or local government office are also banned.

Comelec reminded DepEd and PhilHealth that hiring, appointment and transfers following the exemption should “not in any manner influence the conduct of the Oct. 30 BSKE.”

More women in BSKE

The Philippines’ country coordinator for UN Women Rosalyn Mesina yesterday urged the public to elect more women leaders.

“We need more women in formal positions of power, even as barangay captains and councilors. These officials make a lot of difference as frontline workers in the communities,” Mesina said.

“The Philippines is always high performing in the gender equality index, but how we translate that to the lead reality of every woman, is another challenge we need to address,” she added.

According to the UN Development Program Philippines, even though the percentage of Filipino women candidates increased from 16.7 percent in 2010 to 20.6 percent in 2022, it translates to one woman in every five candidates.

The percentage of women elected also increased from 18.5 percent in 2010 to 23.3 percent in 2022, yet still below parity, it added. — Rhodina Villanueva, Neil Jayson Servallos, Marc Jayson Cayabyab