AGRI Party-list Rep. Manoy Wilbert Lee has called on the government to return the ₱60 billion transferred from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the National Treasury, saying these funds should instead be used in increasing health benefits for members and beneficiaries, and settling denied claims owed to hospitals.
“Ang pinaka-layunin po natin: Makamit ang libreng gamot at pagpapagamot para sa bawat Pilipino. By returning the ‘unused funds’ to PhilHealth and addressing the denied claims, we take a significant step toward achieving that objective,” he said.
“Ang pondo para sa kalusugan, dapat gamitin para mabura ang pangamba ng ating mga kababayan sa pagkakasakit dahil walang pambili ng gamot at pambayad sa ospital. Dapat gamitin ito para mapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan, hindi sa mga proyekto na hindi gaanong mahalaga at wala namang mamamatay kung hindi maisakatuparan,” he added.
AGRI Party-list, which is running for reelection in the 2025 National and Local Elections, stressed that the state health insurer should address its obligations to hospitals, ensuring they have the resources necessary to provide essential services and quality patient care.
“Nang ibinulgar natin noong September 2023 ang bilyon-bilyong pondo ng PhilHealth, bukod sa mga dagdag na benepisyo, una tayo sa nanawagan na bayaran nito ang mga ospital lalo pa’t marami nating mga kababayan ang hindi na tinatanggap sa ospital dahil sa malaking utang ng PhilHealth,” AGRI said.
“Apektado ng pagkakautang na ito ng PhilHealth ang serbisyo at operasyon ng mga ospital, kasama na ang pasweldo sa mga doktor, nurse, at mga empleyado,” it added.
PhilHealth recently committed to reprocess and settle ₱8.8 billion worth of previously denied claims from hospitals due to late filing or administrative issues, dating from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2024.
It can be recalled that this 19th Congress, AGRI filed House Bill No. 11298, which seeks to grant amnesty for cases involving hospitals and doctors and payment of denied claims due to late filing.
In 2024, the Department of Finance (DOF) initiated the transfer of ₱89.9 billion, identified as excess funds from PhilHealth, to the National Treasury, a move that AGRI Party-list vehemently opposed.
While an initial ₱60 billion PhilHealth fund was already transferred last year, SC issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) prohibiting the further transfer of the remaining P29.9 billion fund of the state health insurer.
During the third round of oral arguments of the Supreme Court on the petition challenging the transfer of PhilHealth funds on March 4, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Kho said that the P60 billion funds transferred from PhilHealth to the National Treasury should be returned to PhilHealth and should be allocated to increase contributors’ benefits.
“Natutuwa po tayo sa mga pahayag ng ating Supreme Court Associate Justices ukol sa usaping ito sa pondo ng PhilHealth, lalo pa’t matagal na nating ipinaglalaban na dapat gamitin ang pondo ng kalusugan para maabot ang libreng gamot at pagpapagamot ng bawat Pilipino. Kasabay ng murang pagkain at tiyak na kabuhayan, patuloy nating ipinaglalaban ang kalusugan ng pamilyang Pilipino para mapagaan ang kanilang pasanin,” AGRI said.
AGRI, under Lee’s leadership, was the first to expose that PhilHealth has billions of available funds in September 2023. Lee’s persistent efforts resulted in the implementation of PhilHealth, increased health benefits, and free medical services.
The said increases include the 30% increase in health benefits that was implemented in February 2024, another 50% increase that started in 2025, free dialysis, free eye check-ups and prescription glasses for ages 0–15, free dental care, expanded coverage for breast cancer treatment, a new benefit package for kidney transplants and heart ailments, and outpatient emergency care services, among others.
