Proposed PhilHealth Reform May Bring Financial Relief to OFW Families in Eastern Visayas

Posted on Jan. 23, 2026 at 6:17 pm

TACLOBAN CITY — A law being discussed in Congress may soon bring financial relief to thousands of families in Eastern Visayas who rely on remittances from their overseas workers, by eliminating the requirement for OFWs to pay PhilHealth contributions.

Government data, based on rough estimates, indicate that there are approximately 50,000 to 52,000 OFWs from Eastern Visayas, many of whom support families in Leyte, Samar, Biliran, and Southern Leyte through regular remittances. For these families, saving even a peso is crucial, especially as the prices of goods and services continue to rise both abroad and at home.

The House of Representatives is currently deliberating House Bill No. 2, or the PhilHealth Contribution Reform Bill, which aims to exempt OFWs from paying required premiums and shift the responsibility of their coverage costs away from the migrant workers.

The bill is primarily championed by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and comes at a time when many Filipino workers overseas are facing stricter work conditions, higher remittance charges, and increased daily expenses in their host countries.

While remittance inflows remain strong, financial experts caution that inflation abroad, particularly in food, housing and medical care costs, is eroding the real value of what OFWs earn and send home.

For families in Region 8, remittances often cover school fees, hospital bills, food, and household needs. Any reduction in mandatory deductions from OFW earnings could alleviate pressure on both migrant workers and their dependents.

If approved, the measure would eliminate the requirement for OFWs to personally pay PhilHealth premiums, with contributions split equally-50 percent by foreign employers.

Supporters argue that this approach aligns with how other countries handle health coverage for migrant workers, where the cost is not solely borne by employee.

The proposal also includes a provision allowing unused government funds to be reallocated to enhance PhilHealth benefits or reduce future contribution rates.

Lawmakers supporting the bill assert that the current system unfairly burdens migrant workers, many of whom already make significant contributions to the Philippine economy.

Rep. Jude A. Acidre, a co-author of the bill emphasized that universal health care should shield workers from additional financial strain.

“Requiring them to pay more for health coverage is unjust, especially amid mounting global economic challenges,” Acidre stated, underscoring that OFWs already send billions of pesos home annually in remittances and taxes.

Labor groups have raised concerns that many land-based OFWs struggle to utilize PhilHealth benefits while working abroad, leading them to feel they are paying for a service they cannot easily access.

The bill is currently under review by a technical working group within the House Committee on Health, where lawmakers are refining its provisions before advancing in the legislative process.

Advocates suggest that swift passage of the measure could offer timely relief to millions of OFWs and their families during a period of global economic uncertainty.

If enacted, House Bill No. 2 could signify a significant shift in how the country supports overseas Filipino workers, signaling a move towards lighter financial burdens and stronger social protection for Filipinos working overseas.

(Photo courtesy: Tingog Partylist)