THE MANILA Health Department has clarified that all employees working in the capital city, including tax receipt holders, must secure a health certificate, differing from a UST memorandum which stated that licensed professionals may be exempted from the requirement if they paid for a tax receipt.
In a letter addressed to UST labor unions, Manila Health Department chief Arnold Pangan said a professional tax receipt (PTR) cannot and should not be used as a substitute for a health certificate because of their distinct purposes.
“It has come to our attention that there may be some confusion regarding the roles and purposes of these two documents. Specifically, there appears to be a misconception that a professional tax receipt can serve as a replacement for or be considered equivalent to a health certificate,” the letter dated Aug. 22 read.
Pangan pointed out that a professional tax receipt is provided by a local government as proof of tax compliance and a professional’s legal obligation to the government and “is not intended to certify the health status or fitness of the individual holding it.” Meanwhile, a health certificate is issued by a health authority certifying that “an individual has undergone and passed the necessary required medical examinations and immunizations” in accordance with Presidential Decree 856.
“This certificate is particularly important for individuals working in certain industries, such as food handling, healthcare and education, where public health and safety are paramount,” Pangan said.
The Manila health chief’s statement contradicted a memorandum issued by the UST Office of the Vice Rector for Finance in April, which instructed all teaching and non-teaching staff of the University to obtain a health permit that costs P625 every year. The directive was in compliance with Ordinance 8793 or the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of Manila approved in 2021.
According to the UST memorandum, professional licensees may opt to secure a professional tax receipt instead of the health permit.
“Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code further notes that… such person who has paid the corresponding professional tax shall be entitled to practice his profession in any part of the Philippines without being subjected to any other national or local tax, license, or fee for the practice of such profession,” the memorandum signed by UST Vice Rector for Finance Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr., O.P. read.
“As such, professionals who are able to acquire their professional tax receipt with the City of Manila are exempted from the [health permit] requirement,” it added.
The same instructions were reiterated in a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document relayed to UST employees in July, which contained the seals of the University, the Manila Health Department and the Lungsod ng Maynila.
The now-debunked provision contained in the UST memorandum had drawn flak from several labor groups and workers who claimed that the alternative given to practicing professionals was “illogical” and “discriminatory.”
To provide relief to professionals who are required to obtain both the PTR and the health certificate, the city government agreed to deduct from the total health certificate fees the amount incurred for the payment of the tax receipt.
Pangan said the matter was communicated with representatives from the UST management during a meeting last June 26. According to him, the UST representatives inquired on the paid PTR of some staff and appealed if the fees could be considered.
“This decision is intended to provide financial relief to professionals who are required to obtain both a PTR and a Health Certificate as part of their compliance with local regulations. We believe this decision will help ease the financial burden on the university staff while ensuring continued compliance with health certificate,” Pangan said.
Pangan: Deadline imposed by UST
In the same letter, Pangan distanced himself from the health permit deadline, saying it was set by the UST administration, not by the Manila Health Department.
“While we understand the importance of this requirement, the [Manila Health Department] is not responsible for setting this deadline. Our role is to ensure that all health regulations are met to safeguard public health, but the specific timelines and enforcement of these requirements within the University are determined by its administration,” he said.
The original deadline to comply with the health permit ordinance was May 31 but it was extended to July 31. Non-tenured faculty members who failed to comply with the requirement were not allowed to teach this term.
Pangan claimed that the city health office expressed “leniency” with regard to the compliance of university employees during a meeting with UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. and UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Asst. Prof. Lourdes Maglinao last month.
In a recent press briefing, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, also the wife of Pangan, said the tirades against the health permit ordinance may have been caused by the UST administration’s failure to explain the policy properly to its employees. F
If the health permit is a requirement, why is it that other manila schools are not compliant on this? There are part time teachers in ust who also teach in other manila universities but they are not required to get the health certificate
[…] Manila Health Department Chief Dr. Arnold “Poks” Pangan said. He was quoted in an August 22 letter to UST labor unions, as reported by student publication The […]