Recto: P113-B subsidy for PhilHealth single largest investment in poor’s healthcare

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Saturday touted the Marcos administration’s allocation of P113 billion for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in 2026 as the “boldest” and “most decisive” investment in universal healthcare (UHC) for vulnerable and underprivileged Filipinos.

“The final amount—P53.13 billion originally proposed plus the fully restored P60 billion—fulfilled President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s clear directive issued last September to return the withheld funding to PhilHealth,” Recto said.

The executive secretary said the 2026 budget shows that “promise has been delivered in full.”

“This administration promised to protect underprivileged Filipinos through better healthcare. With the P113-billion allocation, we are not just keeping that promise; we are exceeding it,” he said.

“This is the largest single-year investment for the poor under universal healthcare,” he added. 

In September, Marcos ordered that the P60 billion in excess PhilHealth funds be returned to the state health insurer.

This was before the Supreme Court, in a 136-page decision, declared void Special Provision 1(d) Chapter XLIII of the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Finance Circular 003-2024, and the transfer of the P60 billion for having been issued with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.

Special Provision 1(d) authorized the return of the excess funds of government-owned and -controlled corporations to the National Treasury. The Department of Finance (DOF) circular, meanwhile, directed the transfer of P89.9 billion from PhilHealth to the National Treasury.

Of the P89.9 billion, only P60 billion was remitted to the Treasury following the high court's issuance of a temporary restraining order for the transfer of the last tranche or remaining P29.9 billion excess funds of PhilHealth. This was in view of petitions challenging the transfer's constitutionality.

In its latest ruling, the SC permanently prohibited the respondents from implementing the transfer of PhilHealth's P29.9 billion to the Treasury.

The high tribunal ordered Congress, the Department of Finance, and the Executive Secretary to include the P60 billion as a specific item in the 2026 GAA to be returned to PhilHealth.

Recto said the P113-billion subsidy will directly support the healthcare needs of indigent families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable sectors, ensuring that millions receive the expanded PhilHealth coverage without additional burden.

The executive secretary added that the Department of Budget and Management has committed to the timely and transparent release of the funds to allow PhilHealth to immediately expand benefits and reduce out-of-pocket costs for Filipino families.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News