By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA — AGRI Party-List Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee on Friday (Sept. 20) took his oath as a Member of the political party Aksyon Demokratiko.
Rep. Lee took his oath before Aksyon Demokratiko President Isko Moreno.
According to Moreno, if Doc Wilie Ong finally decides, he will also be fielded by Aksyon Demokratiko as as senatorial bet together with AGRI Party-List Rep. Wilbert Lee in the 2025 senatorial election.
Moreno expressed the hope that Lee and Ong will be among the 12 senators to be elected in 2025.
Aksyon Demokratiko was founded by Bicolano Senator Raul Roco.
The oathtaking ceremony was held at the Sheraton Manila Bay Hotel.
Lee is reportedly running for Senator in the May 2025 mid-term elections.
If elected as Senator, Lee said that he will make sure that there will be food for every table of Filipino families, decent housing and affordable education.
With Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) having more than P504 billion worth of investments, Rep. Lee filed House Resolution No. 2015 urging the Benefits Committee (BenCom) of PhilHealth led by the Department of Health (DOH) to immediately convene for the implementation of benefit increases and that the meeting must be livestreamed for public’s access.
The legislative measure was filed as soon as the DOH announced the increase in the hemodialysis package rate from P4,000 per session to P6,350—a decision from the recent meeting of BenCom spearheaded by DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa.
In his Resolution, the Bicolano solon also said that the BenCom meeting must be livestreamed for the public’s real time updates so that more Filipinos have access to the information and can stay informed about what’s transpiring in the deliberation of their entitlements and benefits in PhilHealth.
It can be recalled that during the 2025 DOH budget hearing held last September 4, Lee warned to defer the health agency’s budget if the proposed increase in PhilHealth benefits will remain unaddressed before the House Plenary debates.
Lee, a staunch health advocate, successfully led the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits which was implemented last February 14.
He is currently pushing for another 50% increase in PhilHealth benefits and if funds would suffice, an eventual decrease in members’ monthly contribution.
