6/7/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly Lastly, the annual contribution of all National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) poor families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Sponsored Program was set at Php2,400.00 effective January 1, 2012. The new rates for the IPP, and the OWP were scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2012 while the new rate for the Employed Sector was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013. On February 21, 2012, PhilHealth moved the effectivity date of the new rates for the OWP Program to January 1, 2013.[13] The deferral was made at the request of civil society groups and non-government organizations in the light of the global crisis that affected a number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). On June 27, 2012, PhilHealth also deferred the effectivity date of the new rates for the IPP program to October 1, 2012.[14] The move was made to allow further consultation in response to various sectors' opposition to the increase. On September 25, 2012, the Corporation further postponed the premium increase to January 1, 2013, after a series of dialogues with informal sector groups.[15] On November 22, 2012, PhilHealth made a partial deferral of the premium rate increase until the end of CY 2013.[16] From January to December 2013, the minimum annual premium contribution rate for IPP and OWP members was pegged at Php1,800.00, instead of the full Php2,400.00. For the members enrolled in the Employed Sector, the premium rate was computed at 2.5% of the salary base. Because the lowest salary base was pegged at Php7,000.00, the minimum annual premium contribution was computed at Php2,100.00. Finally, the monthly salary bracket ceiling was pegged at a salary base of Php35,000.00. On September 2013, PhilHealth issued the three assailed circulars fully implementing the new premium rates for 2014: 1. PhilHealth Circular No. 0024, s. 2013[17] was issued on September 30, 2013, increasing the minimum annual premium rate for the IPP to Php2,400.00 for members with a monthly income of Php25,000.00 and below. 2. PhilHealth Circular No. 0025, s. 2013[18] was issued on September 30, 2013, adjusting the annual premium rate for the OWP to Php2,400.00 for all land-based OFWs, whether documented or undocumented. 3. PhilHealth Circular No. 0027, s. 2013[19] was also issued on September 30, 2013, for the Employed Sector. It retained 2.5% at the premium rate and the elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/62083 3/13