28 The right to social security of the workers in the informal economy/ sector Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act67 was signed into law in February 2019 aimed “at the expansion of population, service, and financial coverage through an array of health system amendments.”68 Under the UHC Act, all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services and protected against financial risk.69 According to the Department of Health (DOH), the UHC Act contains comprehensive and progressive reforms that will ensure every Filipino is healthy, protected from health hazards and risks, and has access to affordable, quality, and readily available health services that are suitable to their needs.70 As explained by Ms. Remedios Gabuya, Member of the Management Group, “the goal is to achieve 100 percent coverage in the most expedient way possible. Through this provision, the law seeks to protect people from the financial burden of paying out of their own pockets. It also reduces the risk of people being pushed into poverty because if you help lessen the impact of having to use the family savings, or borrowing money to pay for their healthcare services.”71 In the report of Ms. Gabuya, she shared that the benefits include the following: 1. Inpatient Benefits - for sickness or illness that need confinement of not less than 24 hours; 2. Outpatient Benefits - surgeries and treatment procedures done in accredited hospitals and clinics that do not require confinements; 3. Primary Care Benefits/ KonSulTa - a comprehensive primary care package that provides easy access to essential and comprehensive outpatient benefits; 4. Catastrophic or Z Benefits- covers primary disease conditions that are perceived as economically and medically catastrophic 5. MDG and other Special Benefits - commitment in the international community like maternity benefits, medical detoxification package of Ebola, and other emerging diseases. Republic Act No. 11223 otherwise known as “An Act Instituting Universal Health Care for All Filipinos, Prescribing Reforms in the Health Care System, and Appropriating Funds Therefor” 68 Department of Health available at https://doh.gov.ph/uhc (last accesed August 24, 2021). 69 Id. 70 Id. 71 Consultation with the representatives of the national government agencies, supra note 40. 67