Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto on Friday said that the Department of Finance is ready to answer any question on the legality of its order implementing the transfer of around P90 billion excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national treasury.
The transfer was authorized under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024, the finance chief said.
“While we have yet to receive a copy of the petition and read its contents, we respect the right of the petitioners to seek clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the legality of the PhilHealth unused subsidy (fund balance),” Recto said in a statement.
Recto said the department exercised legal due diligence through coordination with the Governance Commission of GOCCs (GCG), the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), and the Commission on Audit (COA), “all of whom have issued a favorable opinion on its legality.”
“As I stated before the Senate, I believe that public health deserves the full support of the government—a position which I have maintained in my three decades in Congress. I want to make it clear that I never opposed any recommendations to reduce PhilHealth member contributions,” he said.
Recto said that whatever measures the government undertakes to source financing for its programs and projects are “consistent with the belief that its capacity to address the primary needs of our people—including health—is not compromised.”
He pointed out the fact that the President has already announced that the PhilHealth will enhance its benefits, with improved medical aid packages for a broad range of illnesses, such as pneumonia, hypertension, and cancer.
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