Senator Loren Legarda pressed the government to fully restore PhilHealth’s mandated subsidies and explain gaps in its budgets for 2024, 2025, and 2026.
During budget debates, Legarda flagged the deletion of the entire P74.43-billion subsidy for 2025, including funds for indirect contributors’ premiums, UHC benefit upgrades, and PAMANA beneficiaries, forcing PhilHealth to shoulder the costs from its own reserves.
She also questioned a 2024 incident in which the Department of Finance reportedly tapped PhilHealth’s reserves, insisting the money must be returned.
For 2026, the NEP allocates P53.26 billion from sin taxes, but the House increased this by P60 billion, bringing the proposed subsidy to P113.26 billion.
Legarda welcomed the hike but said it still does not replenish depleted reserves and falls short of the full funding required under the UHC Law.
“We want to ensure PhilHealth receives the full, clearly earmarked funds it is entitled to—funds that are sufficient and readily available so it can deliver quality, affordable health care to every Filipino,” she said.IMT
