No sourcing health cashback from flood mess — Garin

Malacañang and Congress have no choice but to comply with the Supreme Court order returning P60 billion to PhilHealth by placing the amount in the 2026 national budget, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said Monday.

Her remarks came after proposals that the funds instead be sourced from the assets of public officials and contractors implicated in flood control kickbacks. Garin rejected the idea, warning it would defy the court and delay the return of the money.

“Isn’t it better to already have the money in hand, or be sure that it will definitely come, than having to look for it later?” she said.

Garin noted that only P110 million has been voluntarily surrendered so far, while frozen accounts and other assets total P13 billion — far short of what is needed.

She said Congress acted swiftly after President Marcos Jr. ordered the restitution of PhilHealth’s excess funds, inserting the P60 billion in the proposed 2026 national budget with Senate support. PhilHealth will receive P113 billion next year, including P53 billion in additional subsidy.