Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Saturday urged members of the Bicameral Conference Committee to confront what he described as a “double whammy” facing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), citing its zero allocation in the 2025 national budget and the delayed return of P60 billion in funds ruled unconstitutional.

Speaking during the bicameral meeting on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 4058, Go warned that the twin fiscal decisions would have direct consequences on patients, hospitals, and healthcare workers, while reiterating his long-standing call for transparency and public participation in the budget process.

“As you all know, I had my reservations on the bicam report of the 2025 budget. In fact, I did not sign the bicam report last year. Particularly, I am saddened by the zero budget given to PhilHealth,” Go said.

Drawing from his experience as former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go said the situation represented a compounded blow to the country’s public health insurer, especially given longstanding gaps in benefit coverage.

“Kumbaga, double whammy po itong nangyari sa PhilHealth, at alam ko po ‘yan dahil noong 2024 nagkaroon po ako ng 14 hearings, including ‘yung para sa health emergency allowances ng mga healthcare workers. Doon natin nakita na kulang talaga ‘yung counterpart ng PhilHealth sa kanilang mga pasyente. Tama ‘yung sinabi mo kanina na napakaliit pa ng case rates sa kanila,” he said.

Go noted that PhilHealth’s own actions in late 2024 showed that higher case rates were possible had reforms been implemented earlier, arguing that delayed decisions contributed to excess funds later transferred to the national treasury.

“In fact, noong nagkagulo na, noong Disyembre 2024, nagkaroon sila ng board meeting. Tinaasan nila, sa ilang araw lang ng board meeting, tinaasan nila ‘yung case rates. E kaya pala nilang taasan ‘yung case rates sa ilang araw, Disyembre. Kung ginawa nila ‘yon noong Enero pa lang, tinaasan ‘yung case rates, wala sana silang excess funds na wawalisin ng national treasury,” Go said.

He traced how the fund transfer in July prompted Senate hearings and eventually legal challenges before the Supreme Court.

“Noong winalis ng national treasury noong July, doon tayo nagkaroon ng hearing. Doon tayo naalarma at may nag-file sa Supreme Court. Salamat at finally, nadesisyunan po,” he added.

Now serving as vice chair of both the Senate Health Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Go said while the issue of the fund transfer had been settled by the High Court, its impact continues to shape current budget deliberations.

“Anyway, tapos na po ‘yon. That’s water under the bridge. Ang problema ngayon, nagdesisyon po ang Supreme Court na ibalik po ‘yung pondo na PhP60 billion. Refund po ito, ibig sabihin dapat sana’y magamit kaagad ito,” he said.

Go questioned why the refunded amount was scheduled for appropriation only in the 2026 budget, particularly as PhilHealth received zero allocation for 2025.

“Eh ginawa pong appropriation na sa 2026. How about the 2025 na zero? Ilan po kayang mga pasyente ang na-deprive po dahil d’yan sa zero budget po ng PhilHealth noong 2025?” he asked.

He said the unresolved gap was among the reasons he refused to sign the bicameral report.

“Kaya po isa sa dahilan na hindi po ako pumirma noong 2025. Maybe ma-address po ito ng bicam. Papaano po ‘yung double whammy na ‘yon? PhP60 billion ibabalik sa 2026, how about na-zero noong 2025?” Go said.

Go concluded by stressing that budget decisions must ultimately be measured by their impact on ordinary Filipinos who rely on PhilHealth during illness and medical emergencies.