Maniolas

Philhealth says its 600 members nationwide may stop honoring Philhealth benefits because of the delayed release of reimbursements for services rendered but assures that all regional offices have made a commitment to pay claims of all providers faster than the 60 days processing time as mandated by law. Photo shows thousands of PhilHealth cards for General Santos beneficiaries taken last September 13, at Lagao gymnasium. Photo: Russell Delvo/Gensan Info Office MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. on Tuesday called on private hospitals to continue honoring the benefits of their patients and warned that not doing so “constitutes a violation of their Performance Commitment.” Reacting to an earlier report quoting the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. as saying its 600 members nationwide may stop honoring Philhealth benefits because of the delayed release of reimbursements for services rendered, Philhealth president and CEO Alexander Padilla assured that, “All our regional offices have made a commitment to pay claims of all our providers faster than the 60 days processing time as mandated by law.” At the same time, he also denied PHAPI president Dr. Rustico Jimenez’s earlier contention blaming “mismanagement” for the delay in the reimbursements. “PhilHealth is mismanaged and they have the guts to give big bonuses to themselves while they cannot pay us,” Jimenez said. “We want to make it clear that the perceived delays in the payment of claims of PHAPI member-hospitals are not due to ‘possible mismanagement at PhilHealth’. Since we implemented the case-based payment system Read More …

GMA Worldwide, Inc. (GWI) continues to showcase the best of what the Kapuso Network has to offer by participating in various TV content markets all over the world. Over the years, GWI – being the global content distribution and acquisition arm of GMA Network – has opened doors of new opportunities for Kapuso programs and artists through content development partnerships and international distribution deals. In April, GWI participated in the biggest gathering of entertainment industry professionals, the MipTV Market Exhibit in Cannes, France. Here, top television execs and creative talents from 100 countries had the chance to preview some of the Network’s latest programs for international licensing; among them Carmela, The Borrowed Wife, Rhodora X, Innamorata, Kambal Sirena, Paraiso Ko’y Ikaw and Magkano Ba Ang Pag-ibig. Jocelyn Go, GWI Assistant Vice President for Sales and Marketing, noted on the positive response for Kapuso programs, “Buyers and other TV groups predominantly radiate positive and enthusiastic reactions when presented with GMA programs. This is an acknowledgment of the high standard and improving quality of our products.” “Equally significant are the great relationships we have built with the other companies who attend these markets with us because their positive opinions are a reflection of GWI’s reputation and standing with our international partners,” she added. Aside from MipTV, GWI also hosted a booth at the NATPE conference in Miami, Florida. Titles that were highlighted include Katipunan, Titser, The Politician (Bayan Ko), and Love Sonata. GWI likewise established a strong presence at DISCOP West Asia in Read More …

State witness Ruby Tuason reads her opening statement during the Feb. 13, 2014 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged pork barrel scam as Justice Secretary Leila del Lima (right) and whistle-blower Benhur Luy (left) listen. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on Wednesday said he doubts the credibility of the Janet Napoles list, which was given to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Ejercito was initially included in that list and was later removed after Napoles’ lawyer admitted they made a mistake. Ejercito said she supports President Aquino’s sentiment that Napoles is not the “least guilty” in the pork scam. But her admits the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind’s affidavit is important as it will help lawmakers in crafting laws that will curb corruption in government. “Her testimony will still be very important. I want to know how she did this whole thing. I want to know who she is dealing with in the Executive” he said. “The least guilty are supposed to be classified as least guilty and Janet Lim Napoles is not qualified as she is the one who thought of all these things and made this run,” she added. Ejercito also thinks socialite Ruby Tuason should not have been made a state witness in the pork case. The senator believes Tuason played critical roles in the Malampaya and pork barrel scams. “I think they are both not the least guilty because they are part of the scam. Because the Malampaya thing will not Read More …

The government ads, which ran in Manila newspapers on Sunday, showed a female teacher lecturing in front of her class with a woman in a medical suit holding a doctor’s clipboard sitting on her shoulders. MANILA (Mabuhay) – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said that while it is still too early to know whether the BIR’s latest ad campaign has helped raise taxes, it has helped make professionals aware of their responsibility to pay the right taxes. “We can really not know for sure yet whether the result comes out effectively… I would think there’s an effect in the sense that, like now because of the campaign, doctors are now becoming aware that this [is] their responsibility,” Henares told the Senate committee on ways and means. She said that as a result of the ad campaign, the BIR has an ongoing dialogue with medical groups on their tax obligations. “Now they become aware that this is their liability… The psychology of people [is such that] unless you’re at the edge, they don’t really mind us, they don’t really pay attention to taxes. All they would say is that, ‘I’m not a thief.’ But with the campaign, basically it opened the door to a discussion with the sector,” she said. The committee took up the a resolution filed by Senator Nancy Binay calling for an investigation of the BIR’s “shame campaign” after the agency released an ad that showing how a doctor who was not paying the correct Read More …

Senate President Franklin Drilon supports the enactment of a supplemental budget to fund disaster rehabilitation in the wake of supertyphoon “Yolanda” which heavily damaged a vast area of the Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013. “We urge the President to certify the supplemental budget as urgent to look for resources to support the typhoon victims,” Drilon said in a media interview on Tuesday (Nov. 19) at the Senate Bldg. in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Saying that the time is ripe for more changes to the country’s political system, Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday appealed to his colleagues to give the anti-political dynasty bill a chance. Drilon once again threw support behind the measure, which is being tackled at the committee level at the Senate. “It’s time to end the long wait. I encourage our colleagues to give the bill a chance… Naniniwala po tayo na malaki ang magagawa ng anti-political dynasty law sa sistema ng pulitika sa bansa,” he said. The House of Representatives started earlier this month plenary debates on the anti-political dynasty bill, the first time the bill was sponsored on the chamber’s floor in 27 years. The proposed legislation seeks to limit the political power exerted by political families by prohibiting relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity to hold or run for both national and local posts in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms. Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities Read More …