Doubling the subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the next fiscal year would be the most appropriate course of action if the Supreme Court (SC) orders the return of the ₱60 billion fund, according to the Budget chief.

This comes after public demand to return the funds transferred from the state health insurer to the national treasury heightened. The case is now under judicial review.

“I don’t think it’s proper to return [the fund],” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremonial signing event on Thursday, March 6.

Pangandaman was referring to the funds, such as the ₱27.3 billion allocation for health emergency allowance (HEA), noting that it would be tedious.

“If it needs to be returned, I think the interpretation is that maybe we should just double the subsidy for the next year,” Pangandaman said, adding a disclaimer that she has no knowledge about the development of the case in the SC.

“Assuming the Supreme Court says that you have to give it back, what you’re going to do is double the [₱60 billion]—₱120 billion,” the DBM chief said.

Asked whether this subsidy increase would possibly be reflected in the 2026 national budget, Pangandaman said it would depend on when the SC decides.

But she said the fiscal space for next year’s budget “will be smaller, assuming that happens.”

“Assuming ₱60 billion, you’ll carve out automatically ₱60 billion from the fiscal space that is available,” she said.

To recall, the SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) last year to halt further transfers of PhilHealth’s excess funds, blocking the continued transfer of the remaining ₱29.9 billion from the planned ₱90 billion.