KIKO BACKS PBBM’S MOVE TO RETURN P60B TO PHILHEALTH

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Saturday, Sep. 20, praised President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s move to restore P60 billion in funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), calling it a crucial step toward rebuilding public trust and strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

“This is a welcome move, especially as our public hospitals and frontliners continue to face immense challenges. We now urge PhilHealth to act swiftly and transparently in allocating these resources to where they are needed most,” the senator said.

This was after the President announced the return of P60 billion from the national coffers to PhilHealth due to savings from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The DPWH resubmitted a leaner 2026 proposed budget of P625 billion–removing some P255 billion from the original proposal of over P881 billion–amid the investigations into the anomalous flood control projects.

Pangilinan–a champion of social welfare and public health reform–stressed that the reinstated funds must now be used efficiently to improve access to medical services, expand health insurance coverage, and settle pending obligations to healthcare providers across the country.

But while supportive of the President’s initiative, the senator said he will also closely monitor the state insurer’s implementation of its programs.

“Transparency and accountability must go hand in hand with funding restoration,” he added.

Last year, the Department of Finance (DOF) ordered the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds amounting to P89.9 billion to the Treasury. Of this amount, P60 billion was already transferred to the national coffers, with the remaining P29.9 billion withheld because of a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court.