FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Board of Trustees.... I give my appreciation to all migrant groups who
swiftly acted and immediately opposed EO 182. I give my thanks to the
groups who still stand against the transfer of the Medicare Fund to
PhilHealth.’
In the House of Representatives various legislators filed many
Resolutions requesting to recall E.O. 182 (HR No. 03), investigate
the use of OWWA funds (HR Nos. 04, 28 and 33) and annul OWWA
Board Resolution No. 005 (HR No. 552). These Resolutions were
fully supported by migrant workers and their families. These
resolutions were blocked by Arroyo allies in Congress.
Eventually E.O. 182 was amended by Arroyo with E.O. 392 that in effect
transferred P530,382,446 of migrant workers’ health care funds from
OWWA to PhilHealth in April 2005 - or after the elections.
A few months before the 90-day campaign period for the 2004
elections, PhilHealth cards with the photograph of Arroyo were
already being distributed in select locations across the country. Arroyo
was essentially able to start her campaign much earlier than all
other candidates with the distribution of these ‘President Gloria’
Philhealth cards (Annex “C”).
The old PhilHealth cards attached as Annex “H” did not have any picture
of any picture of any politician.
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Beside the Arroyo photograph is the acronym GMA, for ‘Greater Medical
Access’ and ‘President Gloria.’ At the bottom portion of the card is the
slogan, ‘GMA para sa masa, para sa lahat’ (GMA for the masses, GMA for
all).
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The distribution of modified PhilHealth cards with Arroyo’s picture that is
even bigger than that of the cardholder and with the ‘President GLORIA’
tag line increased during the first four (4) months of 2004.
These PhilHealth cards were to be distributed to five million families in
time for the Arroyo’s birthday on April 6 (Annex “J”).
In January 2004, about 4,208 cards were doled out in Sultan Kudarat
and another 1,008 cards in North Cotabato (Annex “K”).
In February 2, 2004 the national opening salvo of PhilHealth card
distribution was held simultaneously in Davao, Cebu, the National
Capital Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Among the areas where Arroyo or her high officials distributed these
cards were at the regional convention of barangay officials at the Expo
Filipino complex in Subic on March 10, 2004 where she distributed more
than 240,000 Philhealth cards to barangay captains, councilors,
Sangguniang Kabataan officers and barangay tanods in Central Luzon
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