Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, on Tuesday, August 27, vowed to scrutinize the 2025 budget of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) amid concerns over the state insurer’s fund transfers to the National Treasury.
In his privilege speech at the Senate Plenary, Go, Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, criticized the transfer of around PhP89.9 billion excess funds of PhilHealth to the national treasury which is part of its P500 billion reserve fund that remains unutilized despite the growing number of poor patients seeking help from the government.
With this, Go reiterated his appeal to PhilHealth to use the available funds for health to help Filipinos with their healthcare needs. “Ang pondong para sa health ay dapat gamitin para sa health!”
Advocating fiscal responsibility, Senator Go questioned the rationale behind granting a subsidy to PhilHealth in 2025, especially given its reserve funds amounting to P500 billion.
“For next year, PhilHealth is requesting a PhP74 billion subsidy. However, if funds are not being utilized for their intended purposes, we will question the prudence of entrusting more funding to an agency that cannot effectively implement its programs during the budget deliberations,” Go stated.
In this context, Senator Go highlighted the irony of PhilHealth’s billions in unused funds, while many patients lack the means to pay for hospitalization and resort to medical assistance, selling, or pawning their properties to cover medical expenses.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na may pondong natutulog lang na hindi nagamit para matulungan ang bawat Pilipinong miyembro naman po ng PhilHealth,” Go explained.
It is also totally unacceptable, according to Sen. Go, for PhilHealth members to be unable to benefit from its services when needed most.
Senator Go added that every peso and centavo is important. Therefore, every Filipino, including overseas Filipino workers who remit PhilHealth contributions, should receive proper service.
In this regard, Senator Go called on PhilHealth to fulfill its promises to: 1) increase case rates; 2) expand program benefits; 3) scrap the single period of confinement policy; 4) suspend the increase in premium rate contributions; 5) stop the transfer of PhilHealth funds; and 6) ensure that contributions are commensurate with the services offered.
Moreover, Go also supported proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act to lower premium contributions of direct members, particularly in light of recent concerns regarding PhilHealth’s unutilized funds. Senate Bill No. 2620, which seeks to revise Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, was passed on its third and final reading on the same day with Go as one of its authors and co-sponsors.
Having said this, the lawmaker from Davao City vowed to monitor the progress of PhilHealth’s commitments.
“Ang dami po nilang ipinangako sa Pilipino, at bilang representante ng mamamayan, nararapat lang na bantayan at siguruhin na tuparin nila ang mga pangako nila sa ating mga kababayan,” Go said.
In conclusion, Senator Go called on everyone to work together not only to address the challenges that hinder the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law but more importantly to achieve a truly universal and equitable healthcare system.
