MANILA – Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson questioned why lawmakers allowed the removal of the P74 billion subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), saying the move was illegal as it effectively amended the Sin Tax Law.

“(The) GAA is a general law. And the sin tax law is a special law. And any lawyer will tell you, or any member of Congress will tell you that a general law cannot amend a special law,” Lacson said during his interjection of Sen. JV Ejercito’s privilege speech on the Universal Health Care Act. “In other words, what the Senate did and what the House did was illegal.”

Lacson was referring to the realignment of the P74 billion in PhilHealth funds to other items in the budget, resulting in the removal of the agency’s subsidy for 2025. Ejercito, in response to Lacson’s questioning, said the amount had been reduced to P43 billion in the Senate version before being completely scrapped during the bicameral conference committee.

“Paano nakalusot ito sa House, may abogado doon? Sa Senate may mga abogado, paano nakalusot na effectively in-amend ng GAA ang special law?” Lacson said.

He stressed that under the PhilHealth Act, as amended, and the Universal Health Care Act, excess PhilHealth funds must be used to either improve member benefits or lower premium contributions.

Lacson also reiterated his push for public participation in the budget process, including the bicameral conference committee, noting he has filed a bill to that effect.