By Liza Soriano

MANILA — AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee has filed a resolution seeking to probe the alleged hospital detention of relatives of deceased patients.

Lee also seeks to investigate the refusal to release death certificates and other relevant medical documents due to the unsettled bills of the patient, forcing those involved to find another person to replace them in the hospital before they are allowed to leave its premises—a scheme known as “palit-ulo.”

“Hospitals should be visited for medical treatment, not for the imprisonment of patients and their relatives. Those who commit this crime are demons, adding to the burden and suffering of patients and their families,” he emphasized.

“What if they were the ones detained while worrying about the health of their loved ones or grieving the death of a family member?”

“Hospitals should provide care, not confinement. They should prioritize compassion over profit. Our hospitals should exhibit empathy, not infliction of pain,” Lee said.

In House Resolution No. 1674, Lee recounted the experiences of reported “palit-ulo” victims in the hospital, such as Richel Mae Alvaro, who was barred from leaving its premises due to her husband’s unsettled bill.

The lawmaker stated that hospitals practicing the “palit-ulo” scheme are criminally liable for Serious Illegal Detention and Slight Illegal Detention under the Revised Penal Code.

“Unsettled hospital bills do not warrant criminal charges under our laws, and they certainly do not justify compulsory confinement of patients in a hospital. This outrageous and illegal practice must stop!” Lee asserted.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the reported proliferation of smuggled onions and other possible agricultural products being sold online.
Lee filed House Resolution No. 1600, stressing that “there is a need to take decisive action and measures from the government to protect our consumers as well as the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk amid the online selling of smuggled onions.”

“May mga nagreklamo na po sa atin na local onion farmers na nalulugi na sila dahil sa mababang farmgate price ng kanilang produkto. Nangangamba sila na lalong hindi mabebenta ang kanilang ani dahil sa nabibiling murang smuggled na sibuyas online,” the solon said.

“Sa kabilang banda, meron na ring nagreklamo sa atin na nakabili online, at yung dumating sa kanila ay hindi maganda ang kalidad, yung iba ay nabubulok na. Hindi naman nila maisoli. DA (Department of Agriculture) na rin ang nagreport na may mga nakumpiska silang smuggled onions noon na may E. coli. ‘Pag smuggled kasi, hindi po ito dumaaan sa phytosanitary tests o mga pagsusuri.”

“Pero hindi po natin masisisi ang mga kababayan natin na bumibili pa rin ng mga produkto kahit may health risk dahil mas nakakamura sila. Yung matitipid nila ay dagdag na ring pambili sa ipa bang pangangailangan o panggastos ‘pag nagkasakit,” Lee added.

The lawmaker has urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other relevant government agencies to implement more stringent measures to curb the sale of illegally sourced agricultural products online.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee emphasized the capability of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to enhance and expand its benefits for members.

“Kaya ng PhilHealth na araw-arawin ang pagtataas at pagpapalawak ng benepisyo,” Lee stated during the House Committee on Health briefing on February 14.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the leadership of PhilHealth, under President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., for responding to our call as early as September 2023 during our budget briefing here in Congress to augment its benefit packages within the agency’s available budget,” Lee also remarked.

Lee noted that PhilHealth should continue augmenting the coverage of its benefits alongside the increase in premium payments.

“With the premium hike this year, PhilHealth will have additional funds. There should be a continuous expansion of your coverage,” the lawmaker emphasized.

Lee further urged PhilHealth to ensure full coverage for cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and other major hospital operations, as well as effective implementation of the No Balance Billing Policy.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Agri Partylist Representative Wilbert Lee is pushing for the establishment of a medicine voucher program to help indigent Filipinos have access to medicines.

“Ang nangyayari po kasi ngayon sa mga nangangailangan na pasyente, kahit covered ka pa ng PhilHealth, kung yung gamot na kailangan mo ay hindi available sa ospital, wala kang choice kundi bumili sa labas at galing sa sariling bulsa ang ipambibili ng gamot,” Lee said.

“Paano kung walang pambili ng gamot? Marami ang napipilitan na mangutang; yung iba, hindi na lang bumibili ng gamot kaya lumalala ang sakit. Kaya naisip natin na mula sa guarantee letters na ibinibigay ng gobyerno para sa medical assistance, magkaroon na tayo ng medical vouchers na tatanggapin na rin pati sa mga pribadong drug stores o pharmacy,” he added.

Lee filed House Bill No. 9797 or the Free Medicine Act of 2024 in which the Department of Health (DOH) as lead agency, in coordination with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall establish a program in providing eligible beneficiaries medical vouchers that will also be accepted or honored in private drug stores and establishments.

If passed into law, a mechanism will also be established to facilitate the accreditation of health care medicine providers, private drug companies and drug stores, to ensure the delivery of quality and accessible medicines.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee expressed his appreciation for the successful passage of the bill creating the Department of Water on its third and final reading.

“We are delighted that we are one step closer to our goal of establishing a dedicated department that will champion universal access to safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable water,” said Lee, a principal author of the bill.

“We extend our gratitude to our colleagues in the House for swiftly approving this legislation. We all emerge as winners when we focus on and address the water supply issues in our country.”

Lee emphasized the critical need for an effective and sustainable water resources management program, enabling the nation to confront the challenges of climate change and ensure a reliable water supply.

“This proposed legislation is among our initiatives as a long-term solution to address the alarming effects of El Niño. Crops and livestock require water to thrive and grow robustly, making the stability of the agricultural sector dependent on an ample water supply,” Lee pointed out.

According to the United Nations, nearly 70 percent of all freshwater appropriated for human use is consumed by irrigation.

(ai/mnm)