With PhilHealth’s continued commitment to provide better service and convenience to its members particularly in reporting premium contributions, the PhilHealth Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS) was launched which is a new version of its web-based reporting system.

PhilHealth first introduced the EPRS in 2010 to make remittance reporting more convenient for employers. The EPRS is a web-based application designed to allow access to employee information through the employer’s representative to facilitate the preparation of premium remittance and submission of monthly remittance report to PhilHealth. Security features are put in place to ensure the confidentiality of information.

EPRS kept its user friendly-features from previous versions but has added the following modules to improve its efficiency:

• • Softcopy RF-1 Uploading Module - this module allows the employer to upload its softcopy RF-1 in comma separated values (.csv) format.



• • Adjustment Module - this module facilitates the processing of adjustment in a submitted report.



• • NGA Premium Reporting Module - this module is designed for the use of the National Government Agencies (NGAs) in reporting premium contributions.



• • Digitally signed Claim Form 1 (eCF-1) - with eCF-1, employees can now avail of their PhilHealth benefits anytime, any day. No more worries should hospital check-out day falls on a weekend or holiday where no employers can sign/issue a claim form.

Since 2010, PhilHealth has been aggressive in its efforts to market the system to employers. It may seem to be a futile task in the beginning as employers are cynical about changing the means on how they submit remittance reports, but efforts have finally paid off as employers saw the advantage of online remittance reporting.

Bless Microfinance Corporation started using EPRS in January 2013. With 345 employees, the company decided to try the EPRS to simplify their remittance and reporting. They sent their staff Daisy T. Tito for the orientation training at Calamba LHIO and had no problem with the system ever since. They said that the instruction on how to use the system is easy to understand thus, “easy and fast” to use. “Using this system, our staff can easily verify their PhilHealth contribution in case of emergency and it has simplified the remittance process, thus, cutting out on time in preparing the report.”

The same positive feedback was received from Asia Brewery Incorporated.

Asia Brewery, Inc. is a Philippine-based diversified beverage company, one of only two breweries currently operating in the Philippines. As a large company with a total of 1581 employees, Asia Brewery considers having an online system in remitting premiums and submitting reports an answered prayer.

Asia Brewery started using the EPRS in February 2013 as PhilHealth Circular 25, s 2012 mandated employers to start using EPRS. But looking back, there was no regret since familiarizing with the system was a breeze. While it was not a perfect 10 as an online service, still, its user-friendly features, easy-to-understand instructions and faster posting of employees’ contributions have become its advantages.

As good as the version of the EPRS may be at this time, Asia Brewery hopes that PhilHealth could provide a version in which the data from payroll system can be uploaded to the database of EPRS.

It was in November 2012 when CBK Power Company Limited, a hydroelectric power company which manages three (3) power plants in Laguna, namely, Caliraya Hydroelectric Plant, Botocan Hydroelectric Plant, and Kalayaan Pumped Storage Power Plant, started using EPRS.

CBK Power Company Limited (CBK PCL) was created to implement the Build-Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer (BROT) Agreement between CBK and the National Power Corporation (NPC).

They were looking for an easier and faster submission and processing of remittance report and with the EPRS, it was wish granted. They never had problems in using the EPRS as “the icons and buttons provide details on how to use the system. Also it provides drag down options where you can easily choose from. The online system through EPRS is very convenient to use unlike the manual submission which requires going to PhilHealth office.”

They gave the thumbs-up when asked if they will recommend the system to other employers. As Evelyn Anastacio puts it, employers will benefit from the system since “it is designed to allow employee and employer’s representative to register online, update beneficiaries, generate PEPRL (Preliminary Employees Premium Remittance List) and SPA (Statement Premium Account) and posting of payment.”

Established in 1897, Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines is a manufacturer and exporter of desiccated and processed coconut products in the U.S. and abroad. The company manufactures the retail coconut brand Baker's Coconut with its plant in San Pablo City, Laguna.

With 106 Direct Hired Employees, Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines’ premium remittance and submission of remittance report is time consuming thus, the company started to use the EPRS on May 2, 2012. Initially, they wanted convenience and ease in their transaction and the EPRS had accorded them these advantages. Now, the EPRS has made their lives easier with its user-friendly features.

Easy to access and simple to use. That is how employers describe EPRS, now that they got a taste of this online facility. PhilHealth continues to encourage employers to use the system and find out how EPRS could simplify their monthly transactions with this government corporation. (Sharyll O. Carpio)