MANILA, March 21 -- The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill giving the President the power to suspend the scheduled increase of premium payments of "direct contributors" to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and adjust the period of implementation during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires.

Passed on the strength of 273 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and no abstentions, House Bill 6772 seeks to further amend Section 10 of Republic Act 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act."

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the bill's principal author, said the suspension of the increase would result in some savings for millio...