Senator Bong Go expressed hope that the Supreme Court would act favorably and decide to order the transfer of the excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) back to the state insurance provider.
“I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will finally decide to have the budget transferred to be returned to PhilHealth. Out of the P89.9 billion na kinuha kasi excess funds daw po… nagamit na ‘yung P60 billion, ‘yung P29.9 million na lang po ang hindi sinauli at pinigilan,” Go said.
The veteran legislator stressed that the move to transfer excess funds to the national treasury is morally unacceptable, considering that access to quality healthcare remains a pressing concern in the Philippines, particularly for low-income families struggling with medical expenses.
“Sa totoo lang hindi katanggap tanggap sa akin, maybe legally nakalusot iyung kinuha ng excess funds but morally it is unacceptable po sa atin dahil totoo naman talaga na napakarami pa nating kakulungan sa ating implementation ng UHC Law,” the seasoned lawmaker explained.
To recall, PhilHealth previously remitted P20 billion to the Bureau of Treasury last May 2024, with another P10 billion last August 2024, and P30 billion last October 2024.
Last October 2024, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against the transfer of these excess PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury.
Last April 2025, the Supreme Court ended its oral arguments on the petitions questioning the legality of the said transfer of excess funds.
As Chair of the Senate Health Committee, he exercises oversight to review and evaluate the implementation of health-related laws.
“Ubusin ninyo ang pondo ninyo sa mahihirap nating pasyente.”
“Last Congress, last year, noong 2024, we conducted 14 hearings in the Committee … to advocate for reforms in PhilHealth following the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury,” the senator said, adding that the Philippines remains far from the full implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.
“Napakalayo pa natin sa full implementation of that law. Dapat po i-maximize po ng PhilHealth and pondo nila. Ubusin ninyo ang pondo ninyo sa mahihirap nating pasyente,” he added.
Go underscored that it is imperative for health agencies, led by the Department of Health and PhilHealth, to exert extra effort in ensuring that the goals and objectives of the UHC will be achieved.
“Dapat po mayroon tayong insurance, na dapat mayroon masasandalan tuwing nagkakasakit.”
“Ang PhilHealth po para sa health, klaro naman po. PhilHealth para sa Pilipino. Ang PhilHealth po ay hindi negosyo. Dapat po mayroon tayong insurance, na dapat mayroon masasandalan tuwing nagkakasakit,” he pointed out.
In addition, Go, widely regarded as a crusader of health reforms, is one of the lawmakers who did not sign last year’s Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the proposed budget stemming from his opposition to the lowered budget for health including zero subsidy to PhilHealth, among others.
“For the record po, hindi nga po ako pumirma sa Bicam Report for 2025 dahil nga po zero ang budget ng PhilHealth at hindi po ako sang-ayon na ize-zero ang budget ng PhilHealth,” he concluded.
