Labor groups are demanding the resignation of PhilHealth board members after Congress allocated zero funding for the state health insurer in 2025, citing inefficiency in handling funds.
The NAGKAISA labor coalition urged Congress to protect Filipino workers by asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to remove PhilHealth’s current leaders.
“Workers already struggle with systemic inefficiencies. Instead of punishing them, Congress should hold PhilHealth accountable. Public health cannot be compromised further,” the group stated.
NAGKAISA emphasized the need for immediate reforms in PhilHealth to ensure affordable and quality healthcare for all Filipinos. They warned that removing government subsidies would worsen the already strained healthcare system, leaving many workers unable to pay medical bills and at risk of hospital detention.
Sonny Matula, NAGKAISA’s chairperson, criticized the removal of subsidies. “PhilHealth benefits are already insufficient. Without funding, workers will suffer even more,” he said. Matula also pointed out that lawmakers prioritized infrastructure and other programs over healthcare, ignoring constitutional mandates for health and education.
The coalition announced plans to hold a rally, urging Congress to restore subsidies and push for leadership reforms in PhilHealth.
Health Advocates Speak Out
Dr. Tony Leachon, a health advocate, called on Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to defend public health against political decisions. Leachon criticized lawmakers for approving zero funding for PhilHealth and questioned why neither Herbosa nor PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma opposed the move.
“PhilHealth claims to have enough reserves, but reserves are not substitutes for proper funding. They are meant for emergencies,” Leachon explained.
Call for Investigation
Rep. Raul Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list has called for a congressional probe into PhilHealth’s use of its P700 billion reserve funds and P500 billion in investible funds. Bongalon questioned how the funds are invested and whether executives benefit personally.
“Even a modest 4% interest on P500 billion could generate P20 billion annually. Where is this money going?” Bongalon asked. He defended Congress’ decision, saying the reserves should be used to cover healthcare needs.
Senator JV Ejercito supported the move, stating that PhilHealth must maximize its reserves to implement the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law. He emphasized the need for leadership reforms to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare for all Filipinos.
Extravagant Spending Criticized
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez criticized PhilHealth for planning a lavish 2025 anniversary celebration costing P138 million. He suggested redirecting most of the budget to patient care, particularly for dialysis treatments.
“Instead of spending on giveaways and tokens, PhilHealth should focus on helping patients. That money could fund over 21,000 dialysis sessions,” Rodriguez said. He called for reducing the event’s budget to P8 million and using the rest for member benefits.
Rodriguez also accused PhilHealth officials of being dishonest when they dismissed reports about the celebration as “fake news.”
