Gatchalian urges PhilHealth, DepEd to ensure teachers’ health insurance on their return to face-to-face classes

On Wednesday, Senator Win Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, has strongly encouraged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to guarantee that teachers and personnel would be able to access their health insurance as they return for face-to-face classes.

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According to Gatchalian teachers, principals, superintendents, and other education personnel are eligible to PhilHealth coverage.

Make sure that the teachers have the health coverage, so they can tap this health coverage in case of infection,

he said.

He stressed that the health insurance will protect the teachers and personnel in the event that they get infected of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) adding that PhilHealth and DepEd will play a very big role in protecting them.

He also said DepEd should ensure coordination with PhilHealth for the agency to be tapped easily for hospital coverage, immediate testing, and reimbursement of other related medical charges as teachers should be given prioritization being the frontliners in the education system.

What we want is to arm our teachers with confidence. It’s important that our teachers are confident that they can go to school, they can teach physically and once something happens to them, the government is there to protect them,

Gatchalian said.

He also recommended to set up handwashing facilities and maintain small class size to protect students from infection.

According to DepEd, teachers who will participate in the pilot test will be vaccinated against COVID-19.

On Monday, Sept. 20, President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID-19 cases.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that a maximum of 100 public schools which have passed its readiness assessment will participate in the pilot test. She added that 20 private schools are also expected to join subject to validation by the DepEd and DOH.

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