Philhealth Corporation announced that they are postponing the increase in premium contribution for their overseas Filipino worker (OFW)-members. According to PhilHealth’s Executive Officer, Eduardo Banzon, the agency decided to defer the planned implementation because of the current global economic crisis that led to the repatriation of many OFWs.

This means that for this year, OFWs only needs to pay Php 1,200 for their Philhealth premiums annual payment. The new premium rate that is Php2,400 will take effect on January 1, 2013.

Last year, the government agency announced that they plan to increase the Philhealth premium payments of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the start of 2012. The Philhealth announcement was met with protests from several non government organizations (NGOs) that represent OFWs.

Meanwhile, an announcement from the Philhealth website said that they have opened service desks in several branches of Robinson’s Malls.

Through the newly-opened service desks, Philhealth members can now conveniently do the following:

·         process/encode membership application forms,

·         update their Member Data Records (MDR),

·         print PhilHealth Identification Number cards, and

·         verify their premium contributions

The said Philhealth services are available at Philhealth service desks in the following Robinsons branches:

·         Lingkod Pinoy Center in Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas, Pasig City,

·         Robinson’s malls in Otis and Malate in Manila

·         and Robinsons mall in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Philhealth is also set to open other service desk in Robinsons Metro East along Dela Paz Marcos Highway in Pasig City soon.

The PhilHealth Vice President, Dr. Shirley B. Domingo, said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony that signalled the formal opening of PhilHealth Service Desks at selected Robinsons Malls, "This is our way of bringing the services of PhilHealth closer to our members and we are very happy and proud that through Lingkod Pinoy Center, our members will truly experience utmost convenience in making their business transactions with PhilHealth.”

The PhilHealth Service Desks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.