MANILA, Philippines – SINABI ni Finance Secretary Ralph Recto na ang P60 billion excess funds na ibinalik ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) sa national treasury ay ginamit para sa health-related projects.
Matatandaang, ipinag-utos sa PhilHealth na ibalik ang P89.9 billion na excess funds sa national treasury.
Noong nakaraang taon, nag-remit na ang PhilHealth ng P60 billion bago pa mapalabas ng temporary restraining order ang Korte Suprema na upang ihinto ang paglipat ng natitirang P29.9 billion.
Sa pagpapatuloy naman ng oral arguments sa PhilHealth funds, sinabi ni Recto sa SC na ang P60 billion ay inilaan sa:
P27.45 billion para bayaran ang allowance ng COVID-19 frontliners
P10 billion sa Social Programs for Health para makapagbigay ng provide medical assistance sa mga mahihirap na filipino
P3.37 billion para sa pagtatatag ng tatlong DOH facilities
P4.1 billion para palakasin ang umiiral na DOH facilities
P1.6 billion sa Health Facilities Enhancement Program
P13.00 billion para pondohan ang government counterpart financing para sa foreign-assisted infrastructure at social determinants para sa mga healths project
“Your Honors, the P60 billion that was returned didn’t vanish—it paid frontliners, built hospitals, and gave the poor access to medicine. Every centavo remitted was converted into service. That is fiscal justice,” ang sinabi ng Kalihim.
Samantala, binigyang diin ni Recto na ang P89.9 billion na ipinag-utos sa PhilHealth na ibalik ay government subsidies na nananatiling hindi pa nagagamit at hindi nagmula sa member contributions.
“It bears stressing that not a single centavo meant for the members’ coverage was touched. Not a centavo of benefits was compromised,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Recto.
“PhilHealth’s daily operations and benefit packages remain intact. They will not be disrupted but will even be improved.” dagdag na wika nito. Kris Jose
