6/7/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 788 Phil. 415 EN BANC [ G.R. No. 210761, June 28, 2016 ] KILUSANG MAYO UNO, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRPERSON, ELMER LABOG; NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONSKILUSANG MAYO UNO, REPRESENTED BY ITS VICE-PRESIDENTS, REDEN ALCANTARA AND ARNOLD DELA CRUZ, CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND HUMAN RIGHTS (CTUHR), REPRESENTED BY ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAISY ARAGO, VIRGINIA FLORES AND VIOLETA ESPIRITU, PETITIONERS, VS. HON. BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III, AND PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHIC), RESPONDENTS, MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRPERSON GARRY MARTINEZ, CONNIE BRAGAS-REGALADO, PARALUMAN CATUIRA, UNITED FILIPINOS IN HONGKONG (UNIFIL-HK), AND SOLEDAD PILLAS, PETITIONERS-IN-INTERVENTION. DECISION BRION, J.: This is a petition for certiorari assailing PhilHealth Circular Nos. 0027,[1] 0025,[2] and 0024,[3] all series of 2013. The circulars, which adjusted the premium contribution rates for the National Health Insurance Program, were allegedly issued with grave abuse of discretion. ANTECEDENTS In the 1987 Constitution, the State adopted an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development.[4] It also undertook to make essential goods and medical services available to the public at a low cost, and to provide free medical care to paupers. On February 7, 1995, Congress passed Republic Act No. 7875, the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA), establishing the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP/the Program) and creating the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (the Corporation/PhilHealth) to administer the Program. The Program covers all citizens of the Philippines in accordance with the principles of universality and compulsory coverage.[5] PhilHealth is a government corporation attached to the Department of Health (DOH) for policy coordination and guidance.[6] Among its notable powers and functions are: elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/62083 1/13

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