News
Citibank is Now PhilHealth-Accredited - October 29, 2008
EMPLOYERS in the private and government sectors may now remit their premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) online, through a recent tie-up with one of the world's leading banking institutions.
In ceremonies held at the PhilHealth Head Office in Pasig City, officials of PhilHealth and Citibank N.A. signed the memorandum of agreement for an electronic collection and remittance system, with Citibank being the latest addition to the list of PhilHealth-accredited collecting banks.
Signing the agreement are Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth President and CEO and Sanjiv Vohra, Citibank's Chief Country Officer (both seated 2nd and 3rd from right respectively). Also in photo are (seated L-R) Citibank's Arlene Nethercott, VP and Head, Treasury and Trade Solutions and Jesus Antonio Itchon, Managing Director and GTS Country Head; and Lorna O. Fajardo, PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Looking on are top officials from PhilHealth and Citibank.
The agreement authorizes Citibank to receive PhilHealth premium payments of employed members through their government and private employers nationwide. "Our partner employers now enjoy the convenience of online banking through Citibank's world-class service and customer friendliness," said Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth President and CEO.
Present during the signing ceremonies were PhilHealth officers led by Aquino and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lorna O. Fajardo. The Citibank was represented by Sanjiv Vohra, Chief Country Officer; Jesus Antonio Itchon, Managing Director and GTS Country Head; and Arlene Nethercott, VP and Head, Treasury and Trade Solutions.
Exchanging the signed agreement are Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth President and CEO (right) and Sanjiv Vohra, Citibank's Chief Country Officer while PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Legal Services Atty. Valentin Guanio and Citibank's Managing Director and Citibank's Managing Director and GTS Country Head Jesus Antonio Itchon (partly hidden) look on.
Under the agreement, employer remittance and reporting is made more convenient using Citibank's Citiconnect, its electronic banking platform. To use the electronic payment system, employers must enroll in Citiconnect, after which PhilHealth will make an online confirmation of the said enrollment, also using the said platform. "Upon PhilHealth's confirmation of an employer's enrolment, we at Citibank are ready to accept their remittance starting on the next banking day!" explained Vohra. "Employers availing of our service can also expect optimum convenience as we will also take care of sending PhilHealth their monthly remittance report on their behalf" he added.
Citibank is now among the 43 accredited collecting partners of PhilHealth. The premium collection network, which includes universal, commercial, thrift and rural banks, as well as a government agency and a non-bank, off-shore collecting agent, has over 3,000 branches ready to collect premium payments from PhilHealth members. (END)