NEWS RELEASE - 17 January 2004

Reference: JOHN MONTERONA,
Vice Chairperson and Number 2 Partylist Nominee
Contact No.: +63 920-2101290

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has no heart!” announced a partylist group of OFWs, returned migrants, and their families outside the PhilHealth head office in Pasig City today.

Today is the eve of the one year anniversary of Executive Order 182. E.O. 182 orders the transfer of the P4 billion Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Medicare Fund to PhilHealth. But because of widespread protests by Migrante and other organizations, the move was “put on hold.”

Documents obtained by Migrante indicate that PhilHealth President Francisco Duque proposed the transfer because it would “boost President Arroyo’s election campaign for it will allow the cash-strapped PhilHealth to distribute cards, with President Gloria’s picture,” to indigents.

“When I see her try to campaign herself as a selfless, caring, and benevolent President, I’m not sure whether I should laugh or be disgusted,” said Migrante Partylist Vice Chairperson and 2nd nominee John Monterona.

“She has no right to publicly praise herself as the guardian of OFW rights and welfare when last Valentine’s Day, she decreed that OFWs could no longer avail of OWWA medical services,” he added.

Then late last December, President Arroyo transferred P520 million from the OWWA Medicare to PhilHealth.

“Rather than strengthen the OWWA Medicare program, Arroyo chose to steal and weaken it instead. We are here today to ensure that not one centavo of the OWWA trust fund is moved into Philhealth again,” said Monterona.

“By transfering funds from one quasi-government entity to a complete government entity, Arroyo assures she has unhindered use of these funds.”

Monterona also noted ironically that while today is the eve of Valentine’s Day, it is also Friday the 13th.

“But for migrants and their families, their woes may clearly be attributed to Gloria’s anti-migrant moves and not ‘bad luck’ or black cats,” he concluded. #