Amid the Issues, PhilHealth Speaks on Anniversary Celebration Budget Proposal
PHILHEALTH – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. clarified that the board has agreed to slash some of the budget proposal for the anniversary celebration.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. recently received countless hate comments online after Dr. Tony Leachon’s social media post went viral. The public health advocate took to social media a photo of the alleged budget of PhilHealth for its Christmas Party and 30th Anniversary celebration.
Based on the post of Dr. Leachon, the state health insurer’s budget is almost P138 million for the upcoming celebration. Countless netizens were left disappointed and called on the attention of the higher authorities to act on the issue.
The said post went viral amid the Bicameral Conference Committee deciding to deny PhilHealth of a governmen subsidy in 2025. According to Senate Finance Committee Senator Grace Poe who made the announcement, the state health insurer will have to use its reserve funds.
Senate President Chiz Escudero said that the lapses of the state health insurer are allegedly the reason why they’re denied of a government subsidy next year. According to the Senate President, they cannot give the state entity another budget that will just not be utilized.
With regards to the budget of PhilHealth for its Christmas Party and Anniversary celebration, the state health insurer’s senior vice president for fund management confirmed that the board has decided to reduce the budget.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Fund Management Renato Limsiaco Jr. said that the breakdown in the said document is a proposal and it was not final. According to him, the board has already decided to reduce the budget.
“As discussed with the board last night, this amount reduced already. Binaba po siya. The amount for the anniversary celebration of PhilHealth for the year 2025 is 48 million pesos,” Limsiaco said.
According to the Senior Vice President for Fund Management of the state health insurer, the fund is from the corporate operating budget. Recently, the board of PhilHealth said it has disapproved some collaterals amounting to around P38 million.