MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the restoration of ₱60 billion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), funds earlier remitted to the national treasury, citing budgetary savings from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after a sweeping review of its projects.
“So I’m happy to be able to announce, dahil sa ating mga ginagawa, siguro alam naman ninyong lahat ‘yung mga savings natin na bago na galing sa iba’t ibang departamento—but mainly from Department of Public Works and Highways—, ‘yung P60 billion na ‘yan ibabalik na natin sa PhilHealth,” Marcos said during his visit to the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila.
He added: “‘Yung P60 billion na ginamit natin sa iba’t ibang proyekto, dahil nagka-savings tayo, maidadala na natin ulit sa PhilHealth.”
The P60 billion is part of the P89.9 billion that the Department of Finance (DOF) compelled PhilHealth to remit to the Treasury last year, representing unused government subsidies—not member contributions.
The controversial transfer was halted after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order in response to petitions filed by Senator Koko Pimentel and the Philippine Medical Association questioning its legality.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto previously confirmed that portions of the P60 billion were tapped for pandemic response and health programs, including allowances for COVID-19 frontliners, medical aid for indigent patients, and improvements to Department of Health facilities.
The decision to return the funds comes as the Marcos administration restructures DPWH’s budget, particularly after questions surfaced over alleged irregularities in flood control projects. The agency has since slashed more than P250 billion from its original 2026 proposal.
Marcos stressed that these realigned funds, once earmarked for flood control, will be redirected to “priority sectors such as education, agriculture, health, housing, ICT, labor, social programs, energy, and infrastructure.”/PN
