Senator Legarda wants automatic release of all funds lawfully due to PhilHealth

Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for a proposed measure that mandates the automatic appropriation and release of all funds lawfully due to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 166 as a means to strengthen universal health care.

“Universal Health Care is a commitment we must honor with clarity and sincerity,” Legarda said in a statement. “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 has been pushing for PhilHealth’s funding protection and transparency.

Her 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 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 said 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.

-Paraluman News