Over 13,000 University of the Philippines (UP) employees working in its constituent units around the country are now entitled to 100,000 pesos per year as financial assistance for hospitalization expenses incurred during confinement, after the UP Board of Regents (BOR) on April 27 approved a proposal to add 20,000 pesos to the 80,000 pesos previously provided by the state university’s Enhanced Hospitalization Program (eHOPE).
This was announced on Labor Day by UP President Atty. Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez, who said that providing additional health benefits for UP personnel was a top priority of his administration given the country’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Jimenez, who took over as UP President in February, “after COVID, very important yung kanilang health issues.”
“Very focused tayo on hospitalization and health; meron tayong dagdag na 20,000 na benefit sa kanilang hospitalization, plus 10,000 pesos for medicines upon discharge.”
“Meron tayong dagdag na 20,000 na benefit sa kanilang hospitalization, plus 10,000 pesos for medicines upon discharge.”
Aside from the 20,000 pesos in additional medical coverage, the BOR also approved the inclusion of non-permanent UP employees in the eHOPE program, provided they have rendered at least one year of continuous service to the University.
Jimenez also revealed that UP would also be increasing its monthly counterpart contribution to the UP Provident Fund (UPPF) from 200 pesos to 300 pesos per month per UPFF member. Over 10,000 members of the UPPF will benefit from the increase, the first hike since May 2013.
“UP would also be increasing its monthly counterpart contribution to the UP Provident Fund (UPPF) from 200 pesos to 300 pesos per month per UPFF member.”
The former labor lawyer pointed out that the increase will help UP employees “kasi retirement fund yan… pero meron ding loan facility dyan.”
He likewise stressed that initiatives to improve the benefits of UP faculty and employees are part of efforts by the University to attract and retain the best professors and staff given increased competition from universities abroad.
