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National Health Insurance Program Month
REPUBLIC Act 7875, the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, created the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). PhilHealth assumed the responsibility of administering the former Medicare program for government and private sector employees, with its transfer from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in October, 1997 and Social Security System (SSS) in April, 1998. Health insurance funds were turned over to PhilHealth – initially totaling R105 million from the GSIS and R14 billion from the SSS. Local government units contributed R52.3 million for the premium contributions of indigent members.
A bigger election issue
THE most effective issue that opposition senatorial candidates can raise is not the Garci tapes or the Bolante fertilizer scam.
A starry Senate circa 1941
THE Senate, as the other pair of the legislative mill, was first introduced to PI by the Jones Law of 1916 as a copy of the US model. Its 24 members were elected by 12 senatorial districts — a cluster of provinces per district. After 19 years it was replaced by a one-house assembly by the 1935 Constitution.
St. Scholastica, Patron Saint of Nuns
CATHOLICS celebrate today the feast of St. Scholastica, patron saint of nuns and patron saint against storms.
‘Be happy’ attitudes
EVERYBODY wants to be happy. But happiness is a very elusive thing. And the reason is we don’t agree on what it means to be happy.
The feeding of the four thousand
Mark 8:1-10
Every deed counts
THE task of further building our nation is so huge that it cannot be left to a few heroes alone. Rather, it is a task that should involve all of us. It should also engage all of our generosity and selflessness.
Political rock stars
THE political campaign period has not officially started yet but already the drive is running high with all those billboards along city streets with the photos of prospective candidates greeting the public on such mundane and half-forgotten anniversaries.
‘Localization’ of education
THE issue of "localization" or giving local government and other sectors at the local level more responsibility in planning the future of education was the primary focus of a recent FGD. The latter is a "prequel" to a conference which will be held as part of the Karunungan festival this coming July. Discussants included former DepEd Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, former CHEd chairperson Ester Garcia, Dr. Fe Hidalgo and Mike Luz, who were former DepEd undersecretaries. The host was another former DepEd Secretary, Linda Pefianco who is currently SEAMEO-Innotech director and education chair of our UNESCO National Commission.
Family resemblance of oligarchy
I CAN’T make out George Bernard Shaw’s observation that "democracy substitutes selection by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few." Did he mean by selection popular election and by appointment some kind of hereditary succession? Honestly, I don’t know even if perceptive people say that when a man says, "honestly," he is being dishonest.
Fearless forecasts
THE Senate, in a last-ditch effort to beat a three-month recess of Congress, approves on third and final reading the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB).
Religion it is not
IT has come to pass that feng shui is now so popular that those of closed minds fear that it is a religion or, at least, superstition.
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