The money is for meds

Do you know where your PhilHealth contributions are going? I do. And it's not something to be happy about.

Every month, this small, almost unnoticeable sum gets deducted from your payslip. It's another one of those nuisances you can't avoid, like Social Security contributions, but we probably never pay attention to it because we keep going back to the whopping amount denominated as "taxes" that gets scalped from our salaries.

But guess what? Multiply that small PhilHealth amount by the hapless local workforce who have no choice but to acquiesce, and state medical insurer PhilHealth gets whopping sums into its war chest. It has to, if it wants to achieve sufficiency to fund the myriad demands for healthcare that our bodies make from the system. But that's not just where our money went. Our measly contribution was even enough to pay for a staggering P1.65 billion in stipends and bonuses to PhilHealth officials.

The argument foisted upon us by presidential appointee Alexander A. Padilla, who is the current President of PhilHealth, is that he inherited the system of perks and bonuses previously approved by President Gloria Arroyo. So, when he took over upon his appointment by President Aquino, he had no choice. As quoted in the Star, he says "the people here have been getting those (compensation) before and I'm not in the position to scrap them."

But this begs the question, isn't the position of the president of a government corporation supposed to make sure that its operations are, not just that it's running smoothly, but also within the bounds of law? So if he gets a notice of disallowance from the state auditing authority, questioning these billion or so in perks, then that's a signal that there some things that aren't exactly kosher. And what should the president then do? Cooperate with the government and comply, right?

Not according to Mr. Padilla. His response? Spend more of our PhilHealth contributions.

First, in a slew of full-page ads in national newspapers, PhilHealth began its very public defense of their billion-peso compensation. In an apparent bid to win the support of the public, or at least, those that could be bothered to read their side of the issue, PhilHealth actually shelled out funds that could be put to better uses, like to relieve my aching bones or even foot the bill for my facial, if there was change to spare. Or, yes, some indigent needing a kidney transplant or dialysis.

Instead, this leader chose to apply public funds in this manner. Full-page advertisements, something that surely cost millions. Where is the sense of propriety, of balance, of prioritization? And not just that. Mr. Padilla is so convinced of the rightness of this compensation scheme that he spends his time (which we are paying for) preparing to argue to the press that their charter gives them legal basis to do this, that PhilHealth has autonomy, etc. Whatever. Shouldn't your time be used to think of schemes to cover my derma bills, Mr. President?

And, just to emphasize his priorities while in office, Mr. Padilla has announced they are willing to go all the way to the Supreme Court to defend their P1.65 billion stipend. Guess whose funds are going to be used to pay the law firms who will argue the case and rack up countless billable hours in this defense? You and me, dear reader. There goes my dream of state-funded lipo.

Before any further uses of those money which our sweat and tears generated is made, perhaps PhilHealth's leader should consider what he said in his speech last year. Mr. Padilla recalled his institution's mission, which was "Bawa't Pilipino, miyembro. Bawa't miyembro, protektado. Kalusugan natin, sigurado" (Each Filipino, a member. Each member, protected.  Our health, a certainty). (Forgive my sucky translation, I nearly failed high-school Filipino).

Mission not exactly accomplished, Mr. Padilla. Defer this lawsuit, perhaps, until we get there?

In closing, Padilla rallied his troops, and said "tandaan po natin na bilang kawani ng ating pamamahalaan, nandito tayo para maglingkod at hindi paglingkuran, ...at taos pusong paninilbi na walang iniisip na kapalit o gantimpala galing kaninuman." (Let us remember that as public servants, we are here to serve and not to be served...whole-heartedly, without thinking that there should be a return or a reward from anyone.")

I like this parting shot. Maybe Mr. Padilla should remember it.