President Aquino to lead Navy's 116th
anniversary celebration in Palawan
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the
116th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy in Puerto Princesa in
Palawan on Tuesday, as well as take a look at a naval station to be
rehabilitated following the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement (EDCA).
"As part of the ceremony on Tuesday, the
President will witness the capability demonstration of the Naval Forces West
(NFW) Command Center and the conceptual master plan of Naval Station Carlito
Cunanan (NSCC) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan," Presidential Spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said during a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
The NFW is the Navy’s primary operational
command at the West Philippine Sea, and has been at the forefront of
territorial defense operations in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, Lacierda said.
"Its upgraded Command Center, equipped with
secure communications equipment and a satellite-based vessel tracking system,
will further bolster our defense capabilities and ensure stability in the
area," he added.
The Palace official said that Naval Station
Carlito Cunanan, named after the first naval officer to support the 1986 EDSA
Revolution, has been slated for redevelopment.
Rehabilitation work will include the upgrade of
the pier, living quarters, and other support facilities of the Navy.
These latest efforts are in line with the EDCA,
through which the government hopes to further improve the country's defense
capacities, Lacierda said.
During the celebration, the President will also
lead the commemoration of the sacrifices of the country's Marines, who have
devoted themselves to protecting the Philippine territorial and maritime
borders.
"We recognize their hard work and
dedication, and in them find renewed inspiration to maintain our commitment to
protect our national sovereignty," Lacierda further said.
"In strengthening the defense mechanisms of
our country, the administration makes progressive investments for the long
term, leaning forward into the future as we pursue the path to greater national
and regional stability." PND (as)
PhilHealth to hospitals: Give patients the
benefits they deserve
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
(PhilHealth) on Monday warned hospitals to give the benefits that every patient
deserves or face government sanctions.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, PhilHealth
president and CEO Alex Padilla said they have received information that Private
Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAP) president Dr. Rustico
Jimenez came out with a threat that some hospitals would not clear PhilHealth
members due to delayed reimbursements from the insurance corporation.
Padilla warned hospitals not to carry out such
action because it is against the law and violators will face fines or
sanctions.
"This is against the law. This is against
their commitment to PhilHealth. All PhilHealth members must be given the full
benefits that they are entitled to. No more, no less, basta full benefits ho
‘yon, hindi ho puwedeng paglaruan ‘yan ng mga ospital," he said.
Once a hospital is proven to have violated the
law, Padilla said PhilHealth will suspend or revoke its accreditation.
Violators may not get any reimbursement from
PhilHealth and can be blacklisted for not following the insurance corporation’s
guidelines, Padilla said.
PhilHealth could also call for a boycott by
encouraging the public not to patronize certain hospitals, he said.
"Mayroon tayong ganoon in place but we wish
to avoid such situation. Kaya sana lang ibigay sa ating mga miyembro ang lahat
ng mga benepisyo nila," he said.
The PHAP has complained that some member
hospitals are not receiving their reimbursements from PhilHealth on time.
Padilla has denied this but attributed some
delays in reimbursement to PhilHealth's shift from the fee-for-service system
to the case rates system, which was introduced last January 1.
Under the fee-for-service system, PhilHealth
paid for every input, with different rates and prices for different hospitals.
In the case rates system however, PhilHealth
makes lump sum payments for the treatment of certain diseases, regardless of
the type of hospital or whether it is public or private, Padilla said.
PhilHealth coverage is part of the government’s
universal healthcare program, or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan.
In the President’s fourth State of the Nation
Address last year, he reported that PhilHealth has so far been able to cover 81
percent of the country’s population. PND (as)
Defense agreement between Philippines and U.S.
is constitutional, says Palace
Malacanang on Monday reaffirmed the
constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between
the Philippines and the United States.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told
reporters during a press briefing that the Palace has anticipated that there
will be “voices not in agreement” with the signing of the EDCA.
Lacierda was referring to a number of petitioners
who are contesting the validity of the EDCA at the Supreme Court. Among them
are former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada, former University of the
Philippines President Francisco Nemenzo, Jr, former President of St.
Scholastica’s College Sr Mary John Mananzan, former UP College of Law Dean
Pacifico Agabin, and former Congressman Teddy Casiño.
The group on Monday filed a temporary
restraining order before the High Tribunal to stop the implementation of the
agreement.
“We are prepared to defend the constitutionality
of the agreement,” Lacierda said.
“We believe that the government can ably support
and defend the position in case a petition is filed --- or if a petition has
already been filed -- before the Supreme Court,” he said.
EDCA was signed last April 28 by Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
PND (ag)
