MANILA – Christopher Bong Go has called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to ensure the proper and full utilization of its funds for health services following the return of the PhP60 billion “excess funds” previously transferred to the National Treasury.

“Ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay para sa kalusugan ng Pilipino. Dapat maramdaman ito ng mga mahihirap na pasyente, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at lahat ng Pilipinong umaasa sa PhilHealth,” Go said.

PhilHealth confirmed that the returned funds are expected to support efforts to expand benefit packages, strengthen internal systems, and improve service delivery to its members.

Go stressed that the returned funds should be closely monitored to ensure they are properly spent, noting that the situation was compounded by what he described as a “double whammy” after PhilHealth was given a zero budget in 2025 following the earlier transfer of excess funds to the National Treasury.

“Hanggang ngayon, maraming pasyente pa rin ang walang pambayad sa ospital. Hindi dapat tipirin ng PhilHealth ang mga Pilipino. Itaas nila ang case rates, palawakin ang benefit packages, mag-isip ng mga programa at polisiya na may pakinabang sa mga pasyente,” Go said.

“Ang importante dito, dapat maibalik sa taumbayan ang pondo sa pamamagitan ng maayos na serbisyong medikal. Tandaan natin, pera ng Pilipino ‘yan,” he added.

The issue stems from the 2024 transfer of PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury under Department of Finance Circular No. 003-2024, which ordered the remittance of PhP89.9 billion in excess reserve funds. PhilHealth initially transferred PhP60 billion in three tranches before the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order stopping the release of the remaining PhP29.9 billion.

Go, then chair of the Senate health committee, had earlier described the fund transfer as “immoral and unacceptable.”

The Supreme Court later ordered the return of the PhP60 billion to PhilHealth and permanently barred the transfer of the remaining funds, declaring void key provisions of the 2024 General Appropriations Act and the Department of Finance circular after finding grave abuse of discretion.

The Court also ruled that under the Universal Health Care Act, unused reserve funds above the ceiling must be used to increase benefits and reduce member contributions, and that such funds cannot be transferred to the national government.

Go said the return of the funds should translate into improved health services, including higher case rates, expanded benefit packages, better access to medicines, dialysis support, and more responsive medical programs.

“Kung bumalik na ang pera, dapat bumalik din ito sa serbisyo. Dapat gamitin para mas mapababa ang gastos ng pasyente at mas mapabilis ang tulong sa mga miyembro,” he said.

“Hindi negosyo ang PhilHealth. Dapat may masasandalan ang Pilipino kapag nagkasakit,” he added.

He also reiterated his call for reforms under the Universal Health Care Act, including improved benefit packages, emergency and outpatient services, and more efficient delivery of assistance to members.

“Ang hiling natin sa PhilHealth, gamitin ninyo ang pondo para sa Pilipino. Gawing mas mabilis, mas maayos, at mas ramdam ang serbisyo,” Go said.