Senator Loren Legarda reiterated her stance that funds allocated for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should remain with PhilHealth.

Legarda made the statement in light of the Supreme Court’s decision directing the government to return the ₱60-billion it earlier took from PhilHealth back to the agency through the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Likewise, the SC ruling prohibited any further transfer of the remaining ₱29.9-billion, making the ruling immediately executory.

“This decision is correct and consistent with what we have long fought for—PhilHealth’s funds must remain with PhilHealth. These subsidies exist to protect the Filipino people, not to be diverted elsewhere,” Legarda said.

Originally, PhilHealth had been instructed to remit a total of ₱89.9-billion in excess funds to the National Treasury. Of this amount, ₱60 billion was already remitted last year before the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), halting the transfer of the remaining ₱29.9-billion.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have since incorporated the restoration of the ₱60-billion into the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) being discussed in the Senate. 

Legarda made this assurance during the Senate session on Dec. 4, 2025 where she reiterated her longstanding position that Congress has a responsibility to ensure that PhilHealth receives the support it needs to deliver essential health services.

She pointed out that the allocation under the 2026 NEP remains insufficient and does not comply with the mandated sin tax law.

“Congress owes the Filipino people a properly funded PhilHealth. In my interpellation on the General Principles of the 2026 budget, I raised concerns over the gaps in PhilHealth’s appropriations for 2024, 2025, and 2026,” she stressed.

“We must ask where the funds were originally placed, why they were removed, and how we intend to fully restore them,” she added.

Moreover, Legarda underscored the need for transparency and accountability in the use of PhilHealth subsidies. She requested PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DOH) to submit detailed liquidation reports to ensure that the restored funds are used efficiently and aligned with the agency’s mandate.

“As we restore these amounts, we must also demand full transparency. I asked PhilHealth and the DOH to account for these funds so that we can determine how the restored budget will genuinely benefit our people,” she stressed.

 “Health care is not a privilege; it is a right. Every peso intended for the people’s health must be safeguarded,” she said.