Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and a staunch health reforms crusader, reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Filipinos amid growing concerns over the proposed zero budget allocation for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2025.
The senator emphasized that while holding PhilHealth accountable for its past inactions, ensuring accessible and quality healthcare must remain the top priority of the government.
“Nakakalungkot na kahit may mga pondo naman ang PhilHealth, hindi pa rin nararamdaman ng taumbayan ang tulong na dapat ay para sa kanila,” Senator Go stated. “Sa komite namin, sisiguraduhin naming maayos at malinaw ang plano ng PhilHealth para sa pondo nila. Hindi po tayo papayag na Pilipino ang kawawa.”
Earlier, concerns were heightened by the PhilHealth’s substantial reserve fund—reportedly amounting to over PhP 500 billion—while many indigent patients continue to struggle with insufficient benefits. This was used as a reason why some legislators pushed for zero budget subsidy for PhilHealth next year.
For Go’s part as a health reforms crusader, he called for immediate reforms from PhilHealth to expand its benefits given its substantial unutilized funds but questioned the rationale behind the proposed zero subsidy for PhilHealth, calling it “anti-poor” and inconsistent with the objectives of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
“Ang UHC ay batas na sinigurong lahat ng Pilipino ay may access sa maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan. Kung mawawala ang subsidiya, paano natin masisigurong matutupad ang mandato ng batas?” Senator Go asked. “Dapat magtulungan ang gobyerno at ang PhilHealth para sa kapakanan ng taumbayan.”
During the past months, Senator Go has consistently pushed PhilHealth to address its shortcomings, including outdated policies and delayed reforms. He cited the need to expedite the expansion of benefit packages, such as coverage for top mortality diseases, dental care, and other essential services.
“Marami tayong naririnig na pangako, bagamat may iilang natutupad, hindi dapat tayo tumigil hanggang masiguradong napapakinabangan ng taumbayan ang benepisyo mula PhilHealth. Ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay para sa health, hindi para itago at ipunin,” Go lamented.
“Hindi po negosyo ang Philhealth. Iyan ay health insurance para mapanatag ang Pilipino na kung sakaling kakailanganing magpagamot ay mayroon silang maaasahan at masasandalan!,” he added.
Go reiterated his position that the government must continue to provide financial support to PhilHealth, in line with laws such as the UHC Law and Sin Tax Laws, which mandate specific allocations for health programs. He warned that defunding the agency would disproportionately affect the poor, who rely on government-subsidized healthcare.
“Ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan ang talagang maaapektuhan dito. Paano sila makakakuha ng serbisyong pangkalusugan kung ni piso ay walang maibibigay ang gobyerno para sa PhilHealth?” Go stressed.
Despite his criticisms, the senator expressed optimism that meaningful changes could still be achieved through sustained pressure and accountability measures.
“Hindi tayo titigil sa pagtutok sa PhilHealth. Bagama’t takot ang Pilipino ngayon dahil sa proposed zero budget subsidy, sisikapin nating hikayatin ang PhilHealth na gamitin ang kanyang sobra-sobrang pondo para hindi maantala ang pagpapalawak ng PhilHealth benefits,” he said.
The Senate Committee on Health is set to conduct another hearing early next year to ensure PhilHealth complies with its mandate and delivers concrete solutions to long-standing issues.
“Umasa po kayo na hindi ko titigilan ang PhilHealth hangga’t hindi nila natutupad ang iba pa nilang commitments sa mga Pilipino tulad ng kanilang pangako na taasan ang case rates; palawakin ang benefit packages; babaan ang premium contribution; i-cover ang dental, visual, emergency, out-patient at preventive care; magbigay ng libreng gamot, libreng salamin at wheelchair para sa mahihirap na Pilipino, at iba pa,” he enumerated.
