RETURN OF P60-B PHILHEALTH FUNDS VICTORY FOR HEALTH AND PEOPLE – SEN. PIA

SENATOR Pia S. Cayetano welcomed the return to PhilHealth of the 60 billion pesos, which was previously transferred to the National Treasury, calling it “a victory for health and for the Filipino people”.

This comes as PhilHealth confirmed that the funds have been returned, in line with the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision voiding the transfer of PhilHealth’s supposed excess funds to the national treasury, and directing that PhilHealth funds must be used exclusively for health services.

 “This is a victory not for any single individual, but for every Filipino family that depends on PhilHealth for access to medicine, treatment, hospitalization, and preventive care,” Cayetano underscored. 

As Senior Vice-chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and one of the principal voices during the health budget deliberations, Cayetano repeatedly questioned the removal and transfer of PhilHealth funds throughout the 2025 and 2026 budget discussions, including during plenary debates and Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations. 

From the outset, she maintained that the Universal Health Care Act and the Sin Tax laws clearly mandate that these funds be used exclusively by PhilHealth. Cayetano is the principal author and sponsor of the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2020, which raised excise taxes on alcohol and e-cigarette products and mandated the earmarking of a portion of the revenues in support of the implementation of Universal Health Care. During her interpellations, Cayetano highlighted the widening gap between revenues legally earmarked for PhilHealth and the amounts actually transmitted to the agency.

She emphasized that the issue was never merely about accounting or bookkeeping, but about public trust and the State’s obligation to uphold the right to health.

“PhilHealth funds exist for the health of the Filipino people and cannot be used for any other purpose,” Cayetano reiterated. “The law is clear. These funds are meant to strengthen healthcare benefits, improve systems, expand access, and ensure better service delivery for our people.” 

“PhilHealth must ensure that these funds are used strictly in accordance with the law – to address the urgent health needs of our people,” Cayetano said. “The SC decision is a clear reminder that healthcare funds are not excess funds. They are lifelines for millions of Filipinos. And the agency has a duty to see that every peso serves its true purpose.”