Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee on Monday called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to fast-track the implementation of health benefits for coconut farmers which has been delayed for several years.

The said benefits are mandated by Republic Act (RA) No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act enacted in 2021 to ease the plight of coconut farmers through support on their health and livelihood.

“Dapat agaran nang maipatupad ang mga benepisyong pangkalusugan para sa mga magniniyog na matagal na dapat naipagkaloob gamit ang pondo para sa kanila. Sila ang pundasyon ng isa sa mga pangunahing industriya sa bansa. Mapapalakas pa lalo ang industriya ng niyog kung pinapangalagaan ang kalusugan at kabuhayan ng mga magniniyog,” Lee said.

Citing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ goal for the country to become the world’s top coconut exporter, the Bicolano lawmaker reiterated: “Kung seryoso tayo na maabot ang layuning ito, hindi na dapat patagalin pa ang pagpapatupad ng mga dagdag na mga serbisyong pangkalusugan para sa ating mga magniniyog.”

It can be recalled that on March 1, 2024, Lee had a meeting with the leadership of PhilHealth and PCA to discuss the importance of informing the coconut farmers and providing them the health benefits that they deserve saying: “Malaking tulong na alam ng ating mga magniniyog ang mga serbisyo ng PhilHealth para mabawasan ang kanilang pasanin at pangamba sa oras na sila ay magkasakit o magpa-ospital.”

On April 4, 2024, the solon from Bicol filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1673 urging the Congress to thoroughly investigate the delayed implementation of the health and medical services for the coconut farmers and their families prescribed by the CFITF Act and Executive Order (EO) No. 172.

Lee also filed HR No. 954 on May 9, 2023 upon discovering that only 34% of the total Coco Levy Fund was disbursed for fiscal year 2022 to provide grants and subsidies for the livelihood and welfare of coconut farmers.

These measures are results of Lee’s constant collaboration with PhilHealth and PCA in crafting policies to ensure that Filipino coconut farmers will get what they deserve.

Further, in May 26, 2024 episode of public service program “Si Manoy ang Ninong Ko,” where PCA Administrator Dexter Respicio Buted served as one of the resource persons, Lee stressed the need to prioritize the implementation of essential services for coconut farmers including livelihood assistance and health benefits, among others.

A staunch health advocate, he successfully pushed for a 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits last February 14, after more than a decade of these not being adjusted or reviewed by the DOH and PhilHealth. These include increasing the PhilHealth benefit package for hemodialysis from P2,600 to P6,350 per session and from 90 sessions per year to 156 sessions annually, as well as the increase in breast cancer treatment coverage from P100,000 to P1.4M.

He is likewise at the forefront of enhancing PhilHealth benefit packages by including costly diagnostic scans such as PET Scan, CT Scan and MRI, providing free optometric services, and increasing the state health insurer’s benefits by another 50%.

Last House budget deliberations, through his persistent efforts, Lee was able to secure commitments from the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth in implementing expanded health services for all Filipinos.

“Ang pondo para sa mga magniniyog, dapat gamitin para sa serbisyo at benepisyo para sa mga magniniyog. Matagal na itong ipinagkait sa kanila at malaking kasalanan kung patatagalin pa ito,” Lee said.
“Bawasan natin ang kanilang pangamba, ng kanilang pamilya at ng lahat ng Pilipino sa pagkakasakit sa takot na lalong malubog sa utang at kahirapan dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital. Huwag na nating pabigatin pa ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan. Gawin na natin!” Lee remarked