The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said Tuesday that it conformed to the call of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to scale down holiday celebrations, noting that it allocated around P2 million budget for this year.
Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector, said that PhilHealth is set to hold its year end activities on Wednesday, December 18, which will be attended by over 1,000 employees.
“Kami po ay sumunod doon sa instruction ng Malacañang to scale down any Christmas party or any year end activity,” he said in an Unang Balita interview.
(We complied with the instruction of Malacañang to scale down any Christmas party or any year end activity.)
“‘Yung ating magiging budget para sa more than 1,000 empleyado, ay mga I think around a little less than P2 million at ito ay para sa pagkain na lamang at para doon sa tinatawag na year end activity,” he added.
(Our budget for our more than 1,000 employees is I think around a little less than P2 million and it is only for food and for our year end activity.)
To recall, Marcos had called on various government agencies to keep their Christmas celebrations simple this year in solidarity with victims of the recent tropical cyclones.
The Palace official also said government offices are also urged to donate whatever savings they realize from scaled-down holiday celebrations to calamity-hit communities.
PhilHealth earlier denied that it allotted nearly P138 million for its Christmas party, saying that the budget was for its whole year, nationwide commemoration of its 30th anniversary in 2025.
Pargas emphasized that the amount was only a proposal and not yet approved.
“This will be covering the whole Philippines, kasama po ang ating [including our] head office, 17 regional offices, and more than 100 plus local health insurance offices. This will be for our members, for employees, for our employers, and for our hospital providers na kasama sa selebrasyon ng ating activity [who are included in our activity celebration],” he explained. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Be the first to comment