Bong Go demands accountability in PhilHealth fund management

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has reiterated his call for accountability in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) fund management as the last tranche of the agency’s dormant funds remains in limbo.

During the Senate plenary session on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday, November 7, Go expressed serious concern over unutilized resources meant for urgent healthcare needs.

He questioned the P60 billion transferred to the National Treasury from PhilHealth’s reserves.

Go began his interpellation by addressing the DOF’s directive to PhilHealth to remit the remaining unused funds to the National Treasury. This instruction, however, was halted by a Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Supreme Court on the matter.

“Naintindihan naman natin na kailangan talaga ng pondo ng Department of Finance,” he said. “Kailangan nilang magwalis ng pondo. Gaya nung panahon ng pandemic, kailangan talagang magwalis ng mga pondo para magamit sa pandemic.”

(We understand that the Department of Finance really needs funds for government operations. They need to source funds like during the pandemic so these could be used for healthcare.)

Go then asked if the P60 billion sent to the National Treasury could still be returned to PhilHealth.

“Ano ba ang plano ng DOF dito? Nagastos na ba ito? Puwede pa bang maibalik ito?” he said.

(What is the DOF’s plan for this? Was it used? Could they return the fund?)

“Maybe it’s legally lusot, ‘no? But morally, it’s unacceptable po sa akin dahil marami pa pong naghihingalo na mga pasyente na hindi nga po halos makalabas sa hospital, walang pambayad sa hospital.”

(Maybe it is legally okay? But morally, it’s unacceptable for me because many dying patients need money to pay for their hospital bills.)

Go also clarified that while he supports the good intentions of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, he could not ignore the issue at hand.

“Ang pakiusap ko lang po, Madam Sponsor, and also sa ating Secretary of Finance, sana po itong PhilHealth talaga… kaya nga po Philhealth, gamitin po natin sa health.”

(My appeal, Madam Sponsor, and to our Secretary of Finance, is to use PhilHealth funds for health.)

“Habang naghihingalo ‘yung mga pasyente — nakikita ko talaga, pumunta kayo sa mga hospital — hindi makalabas, nagmamakaawa. Bakit sila nagmamakaawa sa mga hospital billing? Tayo, nadi-diskubre natin, P500-billion reserved fund, natutulog, nawawalis na lang po, habang namamatay ‘yung mga pasyente,” he pointed out.

(While patients are dying — I saw them, go visit the hospitals — they are pleading for their hospital bills to be settled. And then we will discover a P500-billion reserved fund, sleeping, and returned to the National Treasury while patients are dying.)

Senator JV Ejercito then interjected to agree with Go’s concerns.

Ejercito blamed PhilHealth for its failure to use its funds effectively. He pointed out that PhilHealth’s inadequate management of case rates and its failure to utilize reserves resulted in a backlog of healthcare needs.

“Hindi naman natin masisisi ang DOF in this whole controversy. I think it’s really PhilHealth who is at fault kasi dapat po ginagastos nila ‘yung pondong ‘yan,” he said.

(We cannot blame the DOF in this whole controversy. I think it’s really PhilHealth who is at fault because it did not use the funds.)

Ejercito also called for urgent oversight to scrutinize PhilHealth’s operations further, suggesting an investigation to determine the organization’s shortcomings.

Go supported Ejercito’s suggestion and pointed out that PhilHealth has outdated policies.

Go expressed frustration that despite being healthcare experts, PhilHealth officials have not been proactive in addressing the gaps.

“Actually, naka-apat na hearings na po ako dito sa Committee on Health sa Senado. At nangako sila, expand nila ‘yung case rates nila, 9,000 case rates. Pinag-aaralan pa raw nila,” Go said. “Marami po mga polisiya sila na 2013 pa, katulad ng single period of confinement policy. Ba’t tayo pa ang maka-diskubre dito? Sila nga ‘yung mga doktor. Dapat sila ‘yung maka-diskubre.”

(Actually, I attended four hearings of the Senate Committee on Health. And they promised to expand their case rates, 9,000 case rates. They said they were studying these. They have many policies way back from 2013 like the single period of confinement policy. We discovered this when the doctors should have discovered this.)

Go then urged Recto to release the funds for healthcare.

He also acknowledged Recto’s contributions to the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, expressing hope that Recto would use his influence to use PhilHealth’s resources properly.

“Pakitulungan na lang po, Secretary Recto, para gamitin nalang ‘yung pondo ng PhilHealth para hindi nakatengga d’yan at natutulog habang ‘yung mga pasyente, naghihingalo at nangangailangan po ng tulong,” Go said.

(Please help Secretary Recto so that PhilHealth’s funds will be used instead of leaving them idle and sleeping while patients are dying and needing help.)

In response to Go’s question about the possibility of recovering PhilHealth funds, Senator Grace Poe said the Supreme Court’s TRO did not have any instruction to return the amount.

“So ibig sabihin po na part na po ito na naibalik sa National Treasury at maaaring nagastos na?” Go asked.

(So this means it is now part of what was returned to the National Treasury and it was already spent?)

Poe disclosed that the funds were utilized to compensate healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, filling a critical gap in their overdue salaries.

The conversation then shifted to the remaining P30 billion, which is still with PhilHealth. Poe confirmed that the P30 billion remains untouched and inactive.

In response, Go repeated his call to action, urging that PhilHealth’s funds be used to support Filipino patients who are in urgent need of medical assistance.

“Kaya nga, sana po, Secretary Recto, tulungan n’yo po ang PhilHealth. Bilang miyembro po kayo ng PhilHealth Board, along with the Department of Health Secretary, pakitulungan na lang po sila. And I’m sure, being…one of the authors and sponsor ng Universal Health Care … We are very, very, very far yet from the full implementation ng Universal Health Care,” he said.

(Secretary Recto, please help PhilHealth. As a member of the PhilHealth Board, along with the Department of Health Secretary, help them.)

“Habang nakatengga at natutulog ‘yung pondo ng PhilHealth d’yan, kawawa ‘yung Pilipino,” he added.

(While PhilHealth’s fund is idle and sleeping, Filipinos are pitiful.)

Go then expressed hope that PhilHealth would manage its funds proactively to make universal healthcare a reality for all Filipinos.

“This would enable us to progressively realize Universal Health Care in the country and to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare,” he added.