Loren hails SC order returning PhilHealth funds

Senator Loren Legarda welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent decision ordering the government to return P60 billion previously transferred from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the agency through the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The High Court also barred any further transfer of the remaining P29.9 billion, making the ruling immediately enforceable.

“This is the right decision. PhilHealth’s funds must stay with PhilHealth. These subsidies are meant to protect Filipino families — not to be diverted elsewhere,” Legarda said.

The drama over PhilHealth’s excess funds dates back to last year when the agency was told to remit a total of P89.9 billion to the National Treasury. Of this, P60 billion had already been transferred before the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the remaining P29.9 billion. Since then, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have included the restoration of the P60 billion in the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, Legarda clarified during the Senate session on 4 December 2025.

Legarda emphasized that Congress has a duty to ensure PhilHealth is properly funded to deliver essential health services. She noted that the current allocation under the 2026 NEP is still insufficient and falls short of the requirements mandated by the sin tax law.

“Congress owes the Filipino people a fully funded PhilHealth,” Legarda said. “During my interpellation on the General Principles of the 2026 budget, I pointed out gaps in PhilHealth’s appropriations for 2024, 2025 and 2026. We need to know where the funds were placed, why they were removed, and how we will fully restore them.”

Transparency and accountability remain central to Legarda’s push. She formally requested PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DoH) to submit detailed liquidation reports, ensuring that the restored funds are efficiently used and aligned with the agency’s mandate.

“As we return these amounts, we must demand full transparency,” she stressed. “PhilHealth and the DoH must account for these funds so we can ensure the restored budget genuinely benefits our people.”

Legarda also called for the full restoration of all funding gaps across other sources, including sin taxes, PAGCOR and PCSO revenues, which have accumulated over the years.

A long-time advocate for accessible and high-quality healthcare, Legarda reiterated her commitment to safeguarding PhilHealth’s financial stability and ensuring that its resources directly support Filipino families, especially the most vulnerable.

“Health care is not a privilege; it is a right. Every peso intended for the people’s health must be protected,” she concluded.