Not mentioned: PhilHealth fund impounding, Cha-cha, Maharlika

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos was silent yesterday on calls to return P89.9 billion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) from the National Treasury, even as he ordered agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to be judicious in spending public funds.

He also did not mention anything about the Maharlika Investment Fund, which is being packaged as the government’s main investment vehicle and is believed by critics to be among the recipients of the PhilHealth remittance, and the Charter change issue.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos spoke of the latest members’ benefits from PhilHealth – from medicines to cancer treatments – amid criticisms of a Department of Finance (DOF) memorandum circular last February ordering the state health insurer to remit P89.9 billion in “savings” to the national coffers.

“The Philippine financial system remains robust and resilient. Tax and non-tax revenue collection was also efficient, in pace with our rejuvenated economy. Notably, for the past two years, our GOCCs remitted dividends to the national government with a combined tally exceeding their contributions in 2022,” the President said.

Building on the strong financial system and guided by strong fiscal discipline, he said the proposed P6.3-trillion national budget for 2025 “was crafted with utmost care, diligence and meticulous attention.”

“We expect all agencies to ensure that every centavo allocated will be judiciously spent for our urgent priorities and socially impactful programs,” Marcos said.

He urged members of Congress not only to approve the proposed expenditure program in its “usual timely manner, but that it be adhered to as closely as possible.”

Health reform advocates earlier questioned DOF Circular 003-2024 that directed PhilHealth to remit P89.9 billion in unused funds back to the National Treasury. The order apparently was in compliance with the 2024 General Appropriations Act that directed the DOF to raise funds for unprogrammed appropriations to be sourced from GOCCs.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also yesterday urged Marcos to order the return of the amount to PhilHealth to “do justice to more than 104 million members of PhilHealth.”

He said the national government should not take away this fund because it came from premium contributions and belongs to PhilHealth members.

In the SONA, Marcos said more generic medicines are now included in the benefits of PhilHealth outpatients – from 21 drugs to 53 medications, including those for high-blood pressure, nerve pain and epileptic seizures – and that the agency more than doubled the benefits for serious ailments like serious strokes and pneumonia to P76,000 and P90,000, respectively.

He added that members’ benefits for those afflicted with cancer were also hiked by as much as 1,000 percent or from P100,000 for breast cancer treatments to P1.4 million. He noted that chemotherapy treatments for colon, lung, liver, ovary and prostate cancer are now included as benefits.