Sen. Bong Go hails SC’s TRO vs further transfer of PhilHealth funds

Sen. Bong Go

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court (SC) for issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the transfer of the P89.9 billion excess PhilHealth funds to the national treasury.

Go likewise vowed to push for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) fulfillment of its promises to improve healthcare services for Filipinos.

“Bilang chairperson ng Senate Committee on Health, taus-puso ang aking pasasalamat sa Korte Suprema na nakinig sa ating mga panawagan. Nagpapasalamat din ako lalo sa mga ordinaryong Pilipinong binigyan natin ng pagkakataong gamitin ang mga nakaraang apat na Senate Committee on Health hearings upang ilabas at marinig ng gobyerno ang kanilang mga hinaing hinggil sa isyung ito (As chairperson of the Senate committee on health, I wholeheartedly thank the Supreme Court for listening to our appeal. I also thank the Filipino people who were given the opportunity to use the Senate committee hearings for airing their concerns and opinion on the matter.),” Go said in a statement.

“Ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay para sa Health!”

“Pero hindi dito nagtatapos ang ating krusada para sa kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan. Hindi ko titigilan ang PhilHealth hanggang tuparin nila ang lahat ng kanilang pangako (My crusade, however, does not end here. I will make sure PhilHealth delivers on its promises.),” said Go, who is also the chairperson of the Senate committee on health.

“Kasama na rito ang pagtaas ng kanilang case rates; pagpapalawak ng benefit packages; pagbaba ng premium contribution; pagkakaloob ng emergency at preventive care; pagbibigay ng dental at visual care; libreng gamot; assistive devices at iba pang pangangailangang pangkalusugan sa mahihirap; pagsasaayos ng mga outdated na polisiya (This includes increasing their case rates, expanding benefit packages, lowering premium contributions, providing emergency and preventive care, offering dental and visual care, free medicine, assistive devices, and other healthcare needs for the poor and revising outdated policies.),” he added.

Go noted that the issuance of the TRO will provide government officials opposing the fund transfer “more resolve and more determination to fight for the fundamental right to health of every Filipino, especially the poor and the helpless.”

In a statement shortly after the High Court announced the issuance of TRO, PhilHealth said that they “fully respect and will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue.”