Legarda renews call for full restitution of PDIC and PhilHealth funds

Amid ongoing deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget, Senator Loren Legarda renewed her call for the restitution and proper allocation of funds legally intended for the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), emphasizing the government’s responsibility to safeguard funds meant to protect depositors and provide healthcare services to Filipinos.

Legarda reiterated her concern over the remittance of ₱107.23 billion from PDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund to the National Treasury. She noted that only ₱57 billion has been proposed for restoration under the 2027 national budget through unprogrammed appropriations, with the release of funds remaining subject to applicable conditions.

The Senator pointed to the recent Supreme Court ruling emphasizing that unprogrammed appropriations must be subject to clear limitations and safeguards to ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability. The Court also stressed that programmed appropriations should generally be prioritized, except when compelling reasons justify the use of unprogrammed funds.

“Funds intended to protect depositors should not be left dependent on uncertain funding conditions. The restoration of PDIC’s reserves must be given serious consideration in the national budget to ensure that the financial protection of ordinary Filipinos is not compromised,” Legarda said.

The Senator likewise raised concerns over PhilHealth’s continuing funding deficiencies, particularly the cumulative shortfall in legally earmarked sin tax revenues, projected to reach ₱133.24 billion by 2027, alongside ₱106.95 billion in unpaid statutory shares from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Legarda emphasized that these statutory allocations must be fully remitted to PhilHealth in accordance with existing laws to support the implementation of the National Health Insurance Program and improve access to healthcare services.

“These funds are earmarked by law to provide healthcare and financial protection to our people. Their allocation should not be treated as discretionary when the law already establishes their intended purpose,” she said.

Legarda also recalled the Supreme Court’s earlier decision declaring unconstitutional the transfer of ₱60 billion from PhilHealth to the National Treasury and ordering its return, underscoring the need to respect the statutory purposes of funds reserved for public protection.

She stressed that the ongoing budget deliberations present an opportunity for Congress to address these funding deficiencies and ensure that both institutions have the resources necessary to fulfill their mandates.

“Our national budget must reflect our responsibility to protect the health and financial security of Filipinos. Funds intended for healthcare and deposit insurance must be preserved and properly allocated. These are obligations we must uphold to maintain public trust in our institutions,” Legarda concluded. (30) 

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Legarda, muling nanawagang ibalik nang buo ang pondo ng PDIC at PhilHealth

Muling nanawagan si Senador Loren Legarda na ibalik nang buo at tiyaking mailalaan sa tamang layunin ang mga pondong itinakda ng batas para sa Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) at Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), kasabay ng patuloy na pagtalakay sa panukalang pambansang badyet para sa 2027.

Binigyang-diin ni Legarda na tungkulin ng pamahalaang pangalagaan ang mga pondong nakalaan para sa proteksyon ng mga depositor at serbisyong pangkalusugan ng mga Pilipino.

Muling nagpahayag ng pagkabahala ang Senador sa paglilipat ng ₱107.23 bilyon mula sa Deposit Insurance Fund ng PDIC patungo sa National Treasury. Sa panukalang badyet para sa 2027, ₱57 bilyon lamang ang iminungkahing ibalik sa PDIC sa ilalim ng unprogrammed appropriations, kung saan nakadepende pa sa mga itinakdang kondisyon ang paglalabas ng pondo.

Tinukoy rin ni Legarda ang kamakailang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nagbibigay-diin sa pangangailangan ng malinaw na mga limitasyon at panuntunan sa paggamit ng unprogrammed appropriations upang matiyak ang disiplina, transparency, at pananagutan sa pamamahala ng pondo ng bayan.

Ayon sa Korte, dapat unahin ang mga pondong kasama sa regular na badyet, maliban kung may mabigat na dahilan upang gumamit ng unprogrammed appropriations.

“Funds intended to protect depositors should not be left dependent on uncertain funding conditions. The restoration of PDIC’s reserves must be given serious consideration in the national budget to ensure that the financial protection of ordinary Filipinos is not compromised,” diin ni Legarda.

Nanawagan din ang Senador na tugunan ang patuloy na kakulangan sa pondo ng PhilHealth, partikular ang mga pondong dapat nitong matanggap mula sa sin tax revenues. Tinatayang aabot sa ₱133.24 bilyon pagsapit ng 2027 ang kabuuang kakulangan sa pondong ito na nakalaan para sa PhilHealth alinsunod sa batas.

Bukod dito, mayroon pang ₱106.95 bilyong hindi naibabayad na bahagi ng PhilHealth mula sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), na dapat nitong matanggap alinsunod sa batas.

Iginiit ni Legarda na kailangang maibigay nang buo sa PhilHealth ang mga pondong ito upang masuportahan ang pagpapatupad ng National Health Insurance Program at mapabuti ang access ng mga Pilipino sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.

“These funds are earmarked by law to provide healthcare and financial protection to our people. Their allocation should not be treated as discretionary when the law already establishes their intended purpose,” paliwanag ng Senador.

Ipinaalala rin ni Legarda ang naunang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nagdeklarang labag sa Konstitusyon ang paglilipat ng ₱60 bilyon mula sa PhilHealth patungo sa National Treasury at nag-utos na ibalik ang naturang halaga.

Binigyang-diin niya ang pangangailangang sundin ang mga itinatakda ng batas upang matiyak na ang mga pondong nakalaan para sa proteksyon ng publiko ay nagagamit sa kanilang tunay na layunin.

Ayon pa sa Senador, pagkakataon ang kasalukuyang pagtalakay sa pambansang badyet upang matugunan ng Kongreso ang kakulangan sa pondo ng PDIC at PhilHealth at matiyak na mayroon silang sapat na pondo upang magampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin.

“Our national budget must reflect our responsibility to protect the health and financial security of Filipinos. Funds intended for healthcare and deposit insurance must be preserved and properly allocated. These are obligations we must uphold to maintain public trust in our institutions,” pagtatapos ni Legarda. (30)