July 17th, 2022
Salceda recommends ex-PAGIBIG head Berberabe for Philhealth; House tax panel chair says former gov exec could fix fund management, modernize benefits admin of national health insurer
House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda (Albay, 2nd District) has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint Former PAGIBIG Fund President and CEO Darlene Marie Berberabe to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), saying that the former housing fund exec “can set the Philhealth fund right,” as “the best and the brightest among the country’s public fund managers.”
“There is an inside joke in the financial world among fund managers and former technocrats that that all the best and brightest are now working PBBM except me because I was on another side but, in my stead, I would like to strongly recommend Atty. Darlene Berberabe to the Marcos administration, as Philhealth head,” Salceda said. This would be my first public endorsement to the Marcos team of best and brightest.
Salceda cited that it was under Berberabe that PAGIBIG’s regular housing loans were reduced from 11.5 percent interest to 5.5 percent.
“Under Berberabe, PAGIBIG grew to 480 billion pesos in assets under management. Efficiencies in management allowed PAGIBIG Fund to lower borrowing costs for Filipino families.”
Calamity loans under Atty. Berberabe also imposed a 5.95% interest rate, down from 10.75% per annum.
PAGIBIG Fund also got ISO-certified under Berberabe’s term.
“Atty. Berberabe was also Valedictorian of her undergraduate college in UP Diliman and was Salutatorian of her batch in UP Law school,” Salceda added. “Effectively, she is a double-Summa cum Lauded graduate.”
Berberabe also has extensive experience in private sector investment management.
Atty. Berberabe was President of Philab Holdings and has recently joined SM Prime Holdings as a member of the Board of Directors.
“I have no doubt that Atty. Berberabe is the woman for the job. As a lawyer, she will be able to navigate the legal issues in Philhealth. She will also be very important for Philhealth reform.”
“But, first and foremost, Philhealth is a fund that needs to be managed, and Atty. Berberabe is one of the best among former public fund executives in the country. Her record shines.”
“Her record is widely recognized. She is even an awardee of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service, the highest civil society issued award for women in the country.”
“In PBBM’s effort to attempt the very best to critical agencies of government, Atty. Berberabe will fit in very well,” Salceda said.
Salceda says that Berberabe could address structural issues in the national insurer.
“Berberabe could solve the Philhealth’s perennial fund underperformance.”
Salceda adds that as a former tech executive, Berberabe “should be able to preside over the digitalization of the Philhealth. The best, easiest, and fastest way to reduce corruption in claims and payments is to digitalize the whole process.”
“Atty. Berberabe’s record in PAGIBIG is one of lowering costs to both government and members, so I am also certain she can deliver efficiencies in cost of administration of benefits”
“She’s a Philosophy major, so I think what she brings to the table in Philhealth is highly proficient common sense. That’s what the agency needs. The social protection of government but the common sense of the private sector.”
Salceda is the principal author and sponsor of the proposed Philhealth Reform Act, which aims to lower premiums for the working class and improve fund management and benefits administration in the government firm.