MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo and four other lawmakers pushed for grant of a 10-percent medicine discount for government workers.
Tulfo said that he and ACT-CIS Partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo filed a bill that seeks to grant such a discount to government workers P30,000 and lower.
“We know the situation of workers in the government who also find it difficult to pay for their medicines when they get sick because of the prices of goods,” Tulfo said.
He said that such a law would “somehow ease their lives and reduce big expenses when they get sick.”
The lawmakers said that their proposal would cover government workers earning P30,000 and below.
Under the bill, government workers must show a valid ID and proof of salary in order to avail themselves of the discount either for branded or generic medicines.
Violators face a fine of P50,000 to P100,000 or imprisonment lasting six months to one year.
“Government employees, who often shoulder the responsibility of supporting families, are particularly vulnerable to the financial burden of high medication costs,” the bill stated.
“This will enable them to access essential medications, improve their health outcomes, and enhance their overall quality of life,” it added. “The value-added tax exemption will further lower the cost of medicines, making them more affordable for a broader segment of the population. This measure aligns with the government’s commitment to promoting public health and reducing poverty.”
