Senator Loren Legarda has called on Congress to address funding shortfalls for the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) under the proposed 2027 national budget, stressing that resources legally allocated for depositor protection and public healthcare must be used exclusively for their intended purposes.
Legarda renewed her push to fully restore the ₱107.23 billion transferred from the PDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund to the National Treasury, noting that the current 2027 budget proposal only allocates a partial return of ₱57 billion under unprogrammed appropriations.
She warned that tying the fund’s restoration to conditional unprogrammed appropriations creates uncertainty over whether the full amount will be recovered.
Referencing a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandated stricter controls on unprogrammed funds and prioritized programmed appropriations, Legarda emphasized the need for fiscal discipline.
”Funds intended to protect depositors should not be left dependent on uncertain funding conditions. The restitution of PDIC’s reserves must be given serious consideration in the national budget to ensure that the financial protection of ordinary Filipinos is not compromised,” Legarda said.
In addition to the PDIC reserves, Legarda pushed for the complete settlement of PhilHealth’s unpaid legal entitlements. This includes an estimated ₱133.24 billion in accumulated sin tax collections slated for the state insurer by 2027, alongside ₱106.95 billion in unremitted mandatory shares from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
According to the senator, full compliance with these statutory remittance mandates is vital to maintaining the National Health Insurance Program and expanding healthcare access. She also recalled the Supreme Court’s prior ruling that declared the transfer of ₱60 billion from PhilHealth to the National Treasury unconstitutional and ordered its complete return.
”These funds are earmarked by law to provide healthcare and financial protection to our people. Their allocation should not be treated as discretionary when the law already establishes their intended purpose,” she stated.
Legarda maintained that the upcoming budget debates present an essential opportunity to correct these deficits and ensure both institutions have the financial capacity to execute their mandates.
”Our national budget must reflect our responsibility to protect the health and financial security of Filipinos. Funds intended for healthcare and deposit insurance must be preserved and properly allocated. These are obligations we must uphold to maintain public trust in our institutions,” Legarda concluded.