Senator Pia S. Cayetano welcomed the return to PhilHealth of the 60 billion pesos, which was previously transferred to the National Treasury, calling it “a victory for health and for the Filipino people”.
This comes as PhilHealth confirmed that the funds have been returned, in line with the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision voiding the transfer of PhilHealth’s supposed excess funds to the national treasury, and directing that PhilHealth funds must be used exclusively for health services.
“This is a victory not for any single individual, but for every Filipino family that depends on PhilHealth for access to medicine, treatment, hospitalization, and preventive care,” Cayetano underscored.
As Senior Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and one of the principal voices during the health budget deliberations, Cayetano repeatedly questioned the removal and transfer of PhilHealth funds throughout the 2025 and 2026 budget discussions, including during plenary debates and Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations.
From the outset, she maintained that the Universal Health Care Act and the Sin Tax laws clearly mandate that these funds be used exclusively by PhilHealth. Cayetano is the principal author and sponsor of the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2020, which raised excise taxes on alcohol and e-cigarette products and mandated the earmarking of a portion of the revenues in support of the implementation of Universal Health Care. During her interpellations, Cayetano highlighted the widening gap between revenues legally earmarked for PhilHealth and the amounts actually transmitted to the agency.
She emphasized that the issue was never merely about accounting or bookkeeping, but about public trust and the State’s obligation to uphold the right to health.
“PhilHealth funds exist for the health of the Filipino people and cannot be used for any other purpose,” Cayetano reiterated. “The law is clear. These funds are meant to strengthen healthcare benefits, improve systems, expand access, and ensure better service delivery for our people.”
“PhilHealth must ensure that these funds are used strictly in accordance with the law – to address the urgent health needs of our people,” Cayetano said. “The SC decision is a clear reminder that healthcare funds are not excess funds. They are lifelines for millions of Filipinos. And the agency has a duty to see that every peso serves its true purpose.”
”Victory for Health and the People” — Ayon kay Sen. Pia tungkol sa Pagbabalik ng Pondo ng PhilHealth
Magandang balita para kay Senador Pia S. Cayetano ang pagbabalik sa PhilHealth ng 60 bilyong piso na dati ay inilipat sa National Treasury, na tinawag niyang “a victory for health and for the Filipino people”.
Ito ay kasunod ng kumpirmasyon ng PhilHealth na naibalik na ang pondo, alinsunod sa naunang desisyon ng Supreme Court (SC) na nagdeklara ng kawalang-bisa sa paglipat ng sinasabing excess funds ng PhilHealth sa national treasury, at pagdedeklara na ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay dapat gamitin nang eksklusibo para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.
“This is a victory not for any single individual, but for every Filipino family that depends on PhilHealth for access to medicine, treatment, hospitalization, and preventive care,” binigyang-diin ni Cayetano.
Bilang Senior Vice-Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Finance at isa sa mga pangunahing sumuporta sa health budget, ilang beses na kinuwestyon ni Cayetano ang pag-alis at paglipat ng pondo ng PhilHealth sa 2025 at 2026 budget, maski sa mga plenary debates at Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations.
Noon pa man, iginiit na niya na malinaw sa Universal Health Care Act at Sin Tax laws na ang mga pondong ito ay dapat gamitin nang eksklusibo sa ilalim ng PhilHealth. Si Cayetano ang principal author at sponsor ng Sin Tax Reform Act of 2020, na nagtaas ng excise taxes sa alak at e-cigarette products at paglalaan ng bahagi ng kita rito para sa pagpapatupad ng Universal Health Care.
Sa kanyang mga interpellation sa 2026 budget, binigyang-diin ni Cayetano ang lumalaking agwat sa pagitan ng mga kitang legal na nakalaan para sa PhilHealth at ng mga halagang aktwal na naipadadala sa ahensya.
Binigyang-diin niya na ang isyu ay hindi lamang tungkol sa accounting o bookkeeping, kundi tungkol sa tiwala ng publiko at obligasyon ng gobyerno na itaguyod ang mas magandang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
“PhilHealth funds exist for the health of the Filipino people and cannot be used for any other purpose,” binigyang-diin muli ni Cayetano. “The law is clear. These funds are meant to strengthen healthcare benefits, improve systems, expand access, and ensure better service delivery for our people.”
“PhilHealth must ensure that these funds are used strictly in accordance with the law—to address the urgent health needs of our people,” pahayag ni Cayetano. “The SC decision is a clear reminder that healthcare funds are not excess funds. They are lifelines for millions of Filipinos. And the agency has a duty to see that every peso serves its true purpose.”
Leave a Reply