In a Senate hearing presided over by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health last Wednesday, pressing concerns surrounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) were once again brought to light.

Go scrutinized the delayed implementation of reforms, the mismanagement of excess funds, and the slow progress in realizing the Universal Healthcare Law’s promise.

Known as a health reforms crusader, Senator Go emphasized the need for proactive measures to ensure every Filipino benefits from the healthcare system.

He opened the session by questioning the timing of PhilHealth’s efforts to increase case rates and expand benefit packages.

Go underscored the consequences of PhilHealth’s delayed actions. He criticized the agency for allowing funds to accumulate excess reserves instead of promptly using them to benefit Filipinos in need.

He elaborated on the scale of the issue, pointing out that significant funds could have been utilized for healthcare services. PhilHealth is mandated by the Department of Finance to maintain a reserve fund of P281 billion. However, Senator Go noted that the agency’s assets had ballooned to a questionable amount of P628 billion.

Go expressed frustration over the agency’s inefficiencies, emphasizing that timely and strategic fund utilization could have saved lives and alleviated suffering among Filipinos.

Highlighting the still incomplete implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law, Senator Go lamented the current state of PhilHealth’s services. He stressed the importance of the law’s intent to reassure patients and make healthcare accessible for all.

Meanwhile, Go, co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1273, lauded its passage on the third and final reading on Monday, 16 December, highlighting its importance in upholding cultural and religious diversity across the Philippines.

The proposed “Equal Access to Public Cemeteries Act” ensures dedicated burial grounds in public cemeteries for Muslim Filipinos, indigenous peoples, and other religious denominations while respecting their customs and traditions. The measure mandates local government units to apportion appropriate spaces within public cemeteries and, if necessary, acquire additional land to meet the needs of these communities.