MANILA, Philippines – Ginagalang ng Malakanyang ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema ukol sa paglilipat ng P60 billion unused funds ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) kahit pa rerebisahin ng Office of the Solicitor General ang desisyon at magdedesisyon kung maghahain ng apela o hindi.
Nauna rito, inanunsiyo ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr sa kanyang pagbisita sa Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital sa Sta. Cruz, Manila na ibabalik na sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ang P60 bilyong pondo na dating ibinalik sa national treasury na mula naman sa natipid na budget na karamihan ay mula sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Layon nito na tiyakin na naipapatupad ng maayos ang zero balance billing program.
“We respect the decision of the Supreme Court. The Office of the Solicitor General will review the ruling and decide on the appropriate course of action to take including the filing of a motion for reconsideration,” ang sinabi ni Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez.
Kaugnay naman sa pondong ililipat, sinabi ni Gomez na kumilos ang Ehekutibo alinsunod sa congressional mandate sa ilalim ng General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024.
“We note that majority of the members of the high tribunal declared as unconstitutional a provision of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024 passed by Congress. We note that the Executive simply complied with the congressional mandate under the said law,” ang inihayag ni Gomez.
Sinabi ni Gomez na ang Pangulo ay nagsagawa ng proactive steps noong nakaraang September 25 para ibalik ang excess fund ng PhilHealth na nagkakahalaga ng P60 billion sa “recognition of the agency’s stronger performance, increased absorptive capacity and expanded benefits in line with the government’s goal of delivering universal healthcare for all Filipinos.”
“The House of Representatives incorporated the restoration in the General Appropriations bill and the Senate likewise upheld the directive in its committee report,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Gomez. (KRIS JOSE)
