PhilHealth last passed GCG evaluation in 2016

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) last passed the evaluation of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) in 2016 and was unable to do so in the last two years, the agency said Tuesday.

According to GCG chairman Samuel Dagpin, Jr., PhilHealth was not able to secure a 90 score in the last two years, which is required for employees to secure their bonuses.

"[2017] and [2018], no. [2016] it was [a passing score for bonus]. The scorecard was based on a previous commission, they passed to get their bonus for the 2016 scorecard," he said in a Senate hearing.

"For the last two years -- [2017] and [2018], no bonus. For 2019, still under validation because they submitted their documents just August 4, and we need to validate it first before we can secure that rating," added Dagpin.

The GCG is the central policy-making and regulatory body mandated to ensure that the operations of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) are transparent and responsive to the needs of the public.

To recall, retired military Ricardo Morales stepped in as president and chief executive officer of PhilHealth in June 2019.

Prior to Morales, PhilHealth was headed by Roy Ferrer in 2018, Celestina Ma. Jude De La Serna in 2017, and Ramon Aristoza, Jr.

Dagpin earlier said under the leadership of Morales, PhilHealth is likely to obtain a below average rating in terms of finance and internal processes.

PhilHealth and its officials are under investigation over the agency's alleged overpriced purchase of an information technology system worth over P2 billion.

In the previous Senate hearing, resigned anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith claimed that the PhilHealth "mafia," composed of the executive committee, stole some P15 billion through fraudulent schemes.

PhilHealth, in a statement, has since denied such claims. —LDF, GMA News