Senate leaders have lauded the return of ₱60 billion in excess funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) after the Supreme Court struck down the transfer of the state insurer’s assets to the National Treasury as unconstitutional.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito emphasized that money earmarked for healthcare must be utilized exclusively for medical services.
He described the reversal as a “welcome development” and a “wake-up call” for PhilHealth to be more proactive in utilizing its resources.
“Ito na ang pagkakataon para mas mapalawak pa ng PhilHealth ang kanilang coverage, mapababa ang out-of-pocket expenses, magkaroon ng mas mataas na PhilHealth participation sa hospital bills at tunay na mararamdaman ng mga Pilipino ang tulong ng gobyerno sa tuwing sila ay maoospital o mangangailangan ng serbisyong medikal,” Ejercito said.
He further noted that the state insurer should focus on improving case rates rather than letting billions sit in reserves.
“Sana magsilbi rin itong paalala na ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay hindi dapat basta ituring na ‘surplus.’ Dapat gamitin at i-maximize ito ayon sa tunay nitong layunin- para sa kalusugan at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” he furthered.
Senator Loren Legarda echoed these sentiments, stating that the funds “should never have been taken in the first place.”
She argued that no fund can be considered “excess” while hospitals remain under-resourced and patients struggle with out-of-pocket costs.
Legarda highlighted that a staggering ₱220.39 billion in additional health funds still needs to be released. This includes ₱113.44 billion from sin taxes and ₱106.95 billion from PAGCOR and PCSO shares.
“I have consistently raised this in budget deliberations and through Senate Bill No. 1662, the proposed PhilHealth Automatic Funding Act, and Senate Resolution No. 339, which seeks to review the transfer of PhilHealth and PDIC funds to the National Treasury and strengthen safeguards for statutory and trust funds,” she said.
The senator concluded that Universal Health Care cannot be achieved through delayed remittances or “after-the-fact corrections,” demanding that every peso intended for health reach the public.