Senator Bong Go criticized PhilHealth’s handling of funds, citing its ₱60-billion treasury transfer in 2024 and rejection of a ₱70-billion subsidy in 2025 as setbacks to Universal Health Care implementation. He blamed delayed benefit rollouts for unused funds and urged stronger financial management to ensure continuous health service expansion.
Senator Bong Go raised concern over the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) financial management, warning that its recent budgetary decisions could undermine key health programs under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. He pointed out that PhilHealth’s transfer of ₱60 billion in “excess funds” to the national treasury in 2024, followed by its refusal of a ₱70-billion government subsidy in 2025, created a two-year funding gap that likely disrupted reform efforts and service expansion.
Go criticized the delay in approving and implementing new benefit packages such as dental, optometric, cardiac, and emergency outpatient services, which were only approved in December 2024. Because these programs were not rolled out earlier, PhilHealth’s unspent funds were deemed surplus and remitted back to the treasury. He argued that earlier implementation could have ensured better fund utilization and improved healthcare access.
Although ₱60 billion is proposed to be restored to PhilHealth’s 2026 budget, this amount merely compensates for what was withdrawn in 2024 and does not cover the ₱70 billion forgone in 2025. Go urged PhilHealth to enhance its efficiency and called on lawmakers to secure adequate funding to sustain public health services.
