Legarda moves to secure PhilHealth Automatic Funding

Senator Loren Legarda opens the year in the 20th Congress with a bold step to strengthen universal health care, introducing Senate Bill No. 1662, the PhilHealth Automatic Funding Act, which mandates the automatic appropriation and release of all funds lawfully due to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“Universal Health Care is a commitment we must honor with clarity and sincerity,” Legarda stated. “PhilHealth must never be left vulnerable to delays or diversions. Every peso earmarked for the health of our people must reach its rightful destination, on time and in full.”

From budget hearings, through Bicameral Conference Committee Meetings, until the enactment of the national budget, Legarda consistently pressed for PhilHealth’s funding protection and transparency.

The proposed bill highlights the persistent failure of the government to fully release revenues mandated by law, including sin taxes and shares from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which has undermined PhilHealth’s capacity to deliver benefits.

Despite clear statutory mandates, PhilHealth has repeatedly been deprived of funds, with allocations under recent National Expenditure Programs (NEP) falling short of what is required. Legarda pointed to the Supreme Court’s ruling ordering the return of ₱60 billion to PhilHealth and prohibiting further diversions as affirmation that funds meant for health care must remain with PhilHealth.

The four-term Senator demanded clarity on missing allocations, pushed for accountability mechanisms, and underscored that health care is not a privilege but a right. The proposed bill, therefore, mandates that all earmarked revenues be automatically appropriated and released directly to PhilHealth, removing discretionary delays and ensuring predictable financing.

The proposed measure further strengthens transparency by requiring the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), PAGCOR, and PCSO to submit quarterly reports on remittances to Congress and to make these publicly available through their official websites.

Legarda stressed that this provision ensures not only the timely release of funds but also public accountability, allowing citizens to see how resources are being transferred and utilized.

“Stable financing is the backbone of universal health care,” Legarda emphasized. “By mandating automatic release of funds, we strengthen congressional oversight, secure transparency, and guarantee that PhilHealth can deliver expanded benefits to every Filipino family.”

Legarda concluded that health care is a right that must be upheld with sincerity and action, and that automatic release of PhilHealth funds is vital to sustain the nation’s health system and make universal health care a lived reality for Filipinos. (30)

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Legarda isinusulong ang PhilHealth Automatic Funding Act

Inihain ni Senator Loren Legarda ang Senate Bill No. 1662 o ang PhilHealth Automatic Funding Act, na layong tiyakin ang awtomatikong paglalaan at agarang pagpapalabas ng pondong nararapat sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ayon sa batas.

“Ang Universal Health Care ay isang pangakong dapat tuparin nang malinaw at taos-puso,” pahayag ni Legarda. “Hindi dapat kailanman malagay sa alanganin ang PhilHealth dahil sa mga pagkaantala o paglilihis ng pondo. Bawat pisong inilaan para sa kalusugan ng ating mamamayan ay dapat makarating nang buo sa tamang destinasyon at oras.”

Mula sa mga pagdinig sa badyet, sa mga pulong ng Bicameral Conference Committee, hanggang sa pagpapatibay ng pambansang badyet, patuloy na iginiit ni Legarda ang pangangailangang maprotektahan ang pondo sa PhilHealth.

Binibigyang-diin ng panukalang batas ang patuloy na kabiguan ng pamahalaan na ganap na ilabas ang mga kita na itinatakda ng batas, kabilang ang sin taxes at bahagi mula sa Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) at Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), na nagpapahina sa kakayahan ng PhilHealth na maghatid ng mga benepisyo.

Sa kabila ng malinaw na mga itinatakda ng batas, paulit-ulit na pinagkaitan ng pondo ang PhilHealth, kung saan ang mga alokasyon sa mga nakaraang National Expenditure Program (NEP) ay kulang sa kinakailangang halaga. Binigyang-diin ni Legarda ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nag-aatas sa pagbabalik ng ₱60 bilyon sa PhilHealth at nagbabawal sa karagdagang paglilihis ng pondo bilang patunay na ang mga pondong inilaan para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan ay dapat manatili sa PhilHealth.

Hiniling ni Legarda ang paliwanag hinggil sa mga nawawalang alokasyon at binigyang-diin na ang serbisyong pangkalusugan ay hindi pribilehiyo kundi isang karapatan. Dahil dito, itinatakda ng panukalang batas na ang lahat ng nakatalagang kita ay awtomatikong ilalaan sa PhilHealth.

Pinatitibay rin ng panukalang batas ang transparency sa pamamagitan ng pag-aatas sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), PAGCOR, at PCSO na magsumite ng quarterly reports hinggil sa mga remittance sa Kongreso at ilathala ang mga ito sa kani-kanilang opisyal na website.

Binigyang-diin ni Legarda na tinitiyak ng probisyong ito hindi lamang ang napapanahong paglalabas ng pondo kundi pati na rin ang pananagutan sa publiko, upang makita ng mamamayan kung paano inililipat at ginagamit ito.

“Ang matatag na pagpopondo ang backbone ng universal healthcare,” diin ni Legarda. “Sa pag-aatas ng awtomatikong paglalabas ng pondo, pinatitibay natin ang oversight ng Kongreso, sinisiguro ang transparency, at ginagarantiyang makapagbibigay ang PhilHealth ng mas pinalawak na benepisyo sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino.”

Sa pagtatapos, sinabi ni Legarda na ang serbisyong pangkalusugan ay isang karapatang dapat itaguyod. (30)