Two leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday urged critics of Congress’ decision to scrap the proposed P74-billion government subsidy to PhilHealth to stop spreading lies and fake news in the spirit of Christmas.
“Sasabihin ko lang po sa mga nagpapakalat ng maling kwento. Maaawa naman kayo sa taong bayan. Pamasko niyo na lang sa amin. Tigilan niyo na ang pagsisinungaling,” Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said.
He was reacting to claims that Filipinos cannot afford to get sick next year because of the removal of PhilHealth’s subsidy from the 2025 national budget.
Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said those spreading the baseless assertions may not even be PhilHealth members.
“Itong mga nagpapakalat ng fake news, baka di pa sila member ng PhilHealth kaya bitter sila. Kaya itigil n’yo na yang mga kalokohan na pinagagagawa niyo,” he said.
The two House leaders assured the more than 110 million PhilHealth members that the state health insurer has enough funds to sustain its treatment and hospitalization subsidies for various illnesses.
“Sa mga kababayan po natin, klaro ho yung mga numero, hindi po matitigil sa isang taon (ang subsidy). May sapat pong reserbang pondo ang PhilHealth para matugunan hindi lang para sa isang taon, dalawang taon pa po,” Acidre said.
“Hopefully, by then, we’ve already corrected (the deficiencies) so we could put in more, probably, funds to PhilHeath once the corrections are made, the adjustments are made,” he said.
He said subsidies would continue to be provided and would even increase next year, as PhilHealth officials had promised.
“Madadagdagan pa by next year ang mga case rates natin. So siguro naman kailangan lang nito magtulungan. Magtulungan tayong lahat,” he added.
Ortega said PhilHealth has enough funds for its programs.
“Masakit po talaga ang mabitin, kaya sinisigurado po natin sa taong bayan po na PhilHealth has more than enough funds to cover its members for the entire year. Klarong-klaro po yan,” he said.
He said people needing health care could also apply for financial aid from the Department of Health (DOH) ‘s medical assistance for indigents program, which may be even bigger than what PhilHealth is providing.
“Karaniwan naman po yung mga pasyente natin…bulk naman po ng pinagkukuhanan ng tulong ay ‘yung medical assistance program natin na under the DOH. Actually mas malaki pa po ‘yung nakukuha nila na assistance kumpara po duon sa naibabawas duon sa PhilHealth,” he said.
“So siguro misinformation is causing a little stress to the public, but then again, we have more than enough and we also have the medical assistance program po from the DOH to help our mas nangangailangan pa na ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Acidre said he could understand PhilHealth members’ frustration and anxiety over the scrapping of the insurer’s 2025 subsidy.
“I understand where the frustration of the people is coming from. Kasi 2014 hanggang this year 2024, 10 years halos, hindi nagbago ang case rate. Siguro kasama sa dapat imbestigahan bakit nangyari yun? Bakit hindi po natin in-update ang case rate? Ano ba ang proseso kung ia-update?” he asked.
He said the House should also investigate where PhilHealth is investing its reserve funds, which amount to about P607 billion.
“Isa po din ‘yan sa pinapa-explain na hindi pa rin ma-explain ng maayos. We’re looking forward to an opportunity siguro next year to also review saan ba ang investible funds ng PhilHealth napupunta,” he said.