Lawmaker to PhilHealth: Spend ₱130-M to member benefits instead of anniversary celebration

Metro Manila, Philippines - A lawmaker has called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to realign most of its ₱138-million budget for its “extravagant” anniversary celebration to member benefits instead.

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez suggested spending only ₱8 million for the anniversary celebration in February and the remaining ₱130 million should be allotted for services to contributors.

Noting that a dialysis treatment costs ₱6,350 per session, Rodriguez said the celebration budget could benefit 21,732 patients.

“Anong gagawin ng mga miyembro sa coffee table book o token? Mas kailangan nila ng subsidy sa dialysis, gamot o hospitalization,” he said in a statement on Sunday, Dec. 15, adding that the bulk of the budget will go to giveaways.

[Translation: What would members do with a coffee table book or token? They need subsidies for dialysis, medicines, or hospitalization.]

Rodriguez also said that PhilHealth should conserve its resources as Congress removed the ₱74-billion national government subsidy in the 2025 budget.

Probe on reserve funds

Meanwhile, Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon will lodge a resolution, pushing for an inquiry on PhilHealth’s reserve funds.

He is seeking accountability for the state insurer’s supposed failure to expand benefits or reduce premiums despite its ₱700-billion reserves and over ₱500-billion investible funds.

“At just a conservative 4% annual interest, P500 billion could yield P20 billion in income. How much does PhilHealth really make from its investments? Where do they place the funds, and who decides where it’s invested? Most importantly, what’s the criteria for these investments?” Bongalon asked in a separate statement.

“Despite PhilHealth’s excess funds, hospitals are complaining that the state insurer often fails to pay them on time. Worse, there are reports that some are even forced to pay bribes just to be able to collect,” he said.

The vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations assured that the defunding of PhilHealth subsidy will not deprive Filipinos’ benefits as the state insurer has more than enough funds for its obligations.

In accordance with the Universal Healthcare Act, PhilHealth must use excess funds to expand benefits or reduce premiums. But Bongalon pointed out that it has done neither.