Senator Bong Go questions once again PhilHealth fund transfer: ‘Maibabalik pa ba ang pondo na para sa health?’

Senator Bong Go questions once again PhilHealth fund transfer: ‘Maibabalik pa ba ang pondo na para sa health?’

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has once again raised concerns over the transfer of billions of pesos from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the National Treasury, following the Solicitor General’s recent statement dismissing allegations of wrongdoing.

While the Office of the Solicitor General (SolGen) maintains that the P16 billion transfer was lawful, Go reiterated that legality does not necessarily equate to morality.

“Hindi ko kinukwestyon kung legal o hindi, pero ang tanong ko: makatarungan ba ito para sa mga Pilipino? Para saan ba talaga ang pondong ito? Hindi ba’t para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan?” Go said.

Amid the debate over fund transfers, Supreme Court Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier raised an even more alarming concern—that PhilHealth may already be financially unstable. Citing a Commission on Audit (COA) report, she noted that the agency has been operating with reserves far below its actuarial requirements for at least three years.

Since mid-2024, Go has been vocal about his opposition to the redirection of PhilHealth’s idle funds, arguing that these should have remained within the agency to improve healthcare services. The senator pointed out that over P60 billion has already been transferred, and he continues to seek clarity on its current status.

“Matagal na nating tinatanong: maibabalik pa ba ito? Saan na napunta ang na-transfer na P60 billion? Kung ginamit man, siguruhing napunta sa kapakinabangan ng mamamayan pagdating sa kalusugan dahil ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay dapat para sa health!,” he stressed.

Senator Go, who serves as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, underscored that PhilHealth was established to ensure accessible healthcare services for Filipinos. He cautioned that diverting its funds—even if deemed lawful—undermines its purpose and may set a dangerous precedent.

“Nakakatakot isipin na ganito pala kadali mawala ang pondo ng PhilHealth. Kung hindi ito pinatulog, hindi sana nawalis,” he lamented.

The senator called on PhilHealth’s new leadership to be more assertive in protecting its resources, ensuring that every peso is maximized for medical assistance, hospital improvements, and benefit expansion.

“Bumisita sa aking opisina si Dr. Edwin Mercado nitong Miyerkules at aking ipinaalala sa kanya ang ating iisang hangarin na makapagbigay ng maayos at maaasahang serbisyo at benepisyong pangkalusugan sa mga Pilipino. Ang pakiusap ko sa kanya, unahin ang kapakanan ng mahihirap na mga pasyente at dapat mabawasan ang pasanin nila kapag nagkakasakit,” Go shared.

“Kahit sino pa ang italagang lider sa PhilHealth, mas mahalaga para sa atin na magagampanan ng ahensya ang mandato nito at maipatutupad ang mga repormang ipinangako ng nakaraang pamunuan nito,” he added.

Go’s calls for transparency in PhilHealth’s finances date back to July 2024, when he first questioned the Department of Finance’s (DOF) decision to sweep “excess” PhilHealth funds into government coffers. He maintained that the funds were not surplus but rather reserves meant for future claims, the expansion of case rates, and the implementation of long-overdue reforms.

“Patuloy nating babantayan kung paano gagamitin ng PhilHealth ang bilyun-bilyong pisong reserve funds nito. Hindi ito negosyo, trabaho ng PhilHealth na tiyaking may maayos na medical insurance ang bawat Pilipino, lalo na ang mga mahihirap. Hindi natin pwedeng hayaan na parang bangko lang ito na nagpapatulog ng pondo. Ang pera ng PhilHealth ay dapat gamitin sa health; ang pondo para sa kalusugan ay pera ng taumbayan na dapat nilang mapakinabangan,” he said.

His concerns were echoed by other lawmakers, leading to multiple Supreme Court petitions against the transfer. The High Court later issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) in October 2024 to block the transfer of an additional PhP29.9 billion, reflecting the growing scrutiny on the issue.

Go also pushed for PhilHealth reforms beyond financial concerns, successfully advocating for the removal of the Single Period of Confinement (SPC) policy and the re-evaluation of the 24-hour confinement rule.

“Dahil sa walang humpay nating pangungulit sa sunud-sunod na mga pagdinig ng ating komite nitong mga nakaraang buwan, marami tayong nadiskubreng programa at polisiya ng PhilHealth na hindi makatao — pero matagal nang ipinapatupad at hindi nasisilip!,” he said.

Despite reassurances from the government that the transferred funds were used for critical health and social projects, Go remains skeptical, demanding concrete evidence of their proper utilization.

“Hindi sapat ang pangakong ginamit ito nang tama. Kailangang may malinaw na detalye kung paano at saan ito talagang napunta. Bantayan natin ito nang mabuti,” he asserted.

With the issue dragging into 2025, Go emphasized that he will not let it fade into the background, vowing to continue pressing for accountability and transparency.

“Kung ang pondong ito ay para sa kalusugan, dapat ito ay magamit para sa kalusugan,” he said.

 

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