Feedback: PhilHealth responds to GOCC bonuses story

From MR. RUBEN JOHN A. BASA Group Vice President for Corporate Affairs, PhilHealth: This is in reaction to an online story entitled “Drilon defends Aquino order cutting GOCC, GFI execs’ bonuses" which was posted on your website (on Oct. 27, 2010). We wish to inform you that the petition filed by one of our lawyers, Atty. Jelbert Galicto, challenging the validity and constitutionality of Executive Order 7, does not represent the stand of the Corporation on the said issue. What Atty. Galicto filed was a personal petition which is not the official stand of the Corporation. He was acting on his own, and did not seek any form of clearance from Dr. Rey B. Aquino, our President and CEO. While PhilHealth is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) with a mandate that allows it to set its own salary structure, it still abides by pertinent policies and regulations governing fiscal administration and management. We have always been adhering to government rules and regulations especially those on observing fiscal prudence and as a responsible corporate citizen, we will continue to abide by what the government calls for. We reiterate our support for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s directions to rationalize the compensation and position classification system in GOCCs and government financial institutions (GFIs), including the moratorium on increases in salaries, and the grant of new increases in the allowances, incentives, and other benefits of government officials and employees. In the interests of fair reporting, we hope this letter is posted on your website soonest. Thank you.