By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA — There are 2,065,000 Filipinos who are registered as Persons with Disability (PWDs) as of March 4, 2025.
During the symposium on ear and hearing health at the University of Sto. Tomas on Friday (March 7)., Vince Balingan, from the Hard of Hearing, Inc. (HOH), cited empowerment by information, education, legislation and implementation.
Balingan does not have the information about the hearing-impaired or deaf individuals in the country.
He said that they are seeking such information from the NCDA and the Federation of PWDs.
Balingan had been with the training for hearing loss and violence on hearing and he would like a cooperation and collaboration with concerned agencies or organizations.
Physical disability and heart disease are prioritized than the ear and hearing through the implementation of related legislations.
Jonalyn Diaz, from NCDA, cited the DOH PWDs Registry has 2,065,000 plus registered Filipino PWDs as of March 4, 2025.
The Philippines is a signatory to the International Convention for the PWDs.
The PWDs are also part in nation building and they are afforded civil and political rights.
The NCDA is supporting the implementation of the Filipino Sign Language Law.
Republic Act 10524 mandates that government agencies and offices should employ at least 1 percent of PWDs, especially those with hard of hearing.
The symposium is a good platform to share ideas and information about ear health and hearing loss.
Norman David, from PhilHealth, on catastrophic benefits or stand alone benefits for ear and hearing health, cited RA 7875 which created PhilHealth.
RA 11223, or the Universal Healthcare Law, which made PhilHealth as the national strategic purchaser for the National Health Insurance Program of PhilHealth.
David said that the implementation of the Benefits Development Framework of PhilHealth will be worked together with the DOH and other stakeholders as well as the policy for the benefit package that may be expanded.
Clinical practice guidelines will be used as basis for the health packages such as assistive package where a memorandum circular will be issued.
Children are prioritized in the benefit system for ear and hearing health package of PhilHealth.
For hearing impairment, it varies from age bracket from 0 to 3 years old from PhP22,100 to PhP67,100 depending on the nature of impairment.
All case rates or Z Benefits (ACR) is the future direction of PhilHealth
PhilHealth cannot do it alone, and it entails not only a whole of government approach but a whole of society approach such as through data sharing to facilitate the expedient delivery of health packages.
David said that all Filipino children can avail of the health packages aged 18 years old and below, but depending on the condition of the children.
The children have good prognosis and they have the better chance of preventing hearing loss if provided with early diagnosis.
The assistive devices may be expanded to adult hearing impaired patients.
Pertinent to all health packages, PhilHealth, in addition to 30%, it increased the packages to 50%.
David clarified that under the Universal Health Law, all Filipinos are now members of PhilHealth, and there is no distinction between paying and non-paying member as they both enjoy the same health benefits from PhilHealth under the principle of social justice such that the rich or the well off are paying the monthly premium to also cover the indigents who are incapable to do so.
PWDs, senior citizens who are pensioners or not, and indigents are exempted from paying such premium but they are also covered by PhilHealth.
Ma. Cristina Lopez Raymundo, Senior Health Program Officer of DOH, shared the initiatives of DOH on ear and hearing health.
RA 11223 or the UHC Law mandates the DOH to lead in the implementation of the National Health Program.
She cited the DOH National Practice Guideines Program Strategy Map 2025-2028, as well as Health and Wellness Program for PWDs.
The Philippine Registry for PWDs will be transferred from the DOH to the NCDA.
As of Feb. 9, 2025, there are 100,000 plus active PWDs or subject for renewal.
The DOH is also observing the yearly World Hearing Day every March 3.
Raymundo said that the DOH is collaborating with the DSWD in connection with the Philippine Registry for PWDs and the DILG or the local government units are the ones encoding the data on the registry.
She added that according to the DOJ, upon presentation of the PWD ID, the 20% discount should be granted even without the rigid verification.
According to the DILG-BLG, the LGUs are not automatically mandated to shoulder the PhilHealth monthly premium for indigent PWDs, unless explicitly mandated by national laws.
However, the LGUs may subsidize the indigent PWDs who are in the Philippine Registry for PWDs.
