SAKSI RECAP: Paglilipat ng unused funds ng Philhealth sa Nat'l treasury, pinatitigil muna ng sc; DOF at Philhealth, susunod daw sa utos (Originally aired on October 29, 2024)

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Transcript

00:00It's almost Php10 billion. That's how big it is when it's said that PhilHealth is not using it.

00:08That's why the Department of Finance is putting it back in the Bureau of Treasury under the Visa of the Department Circular 003-2024.

00:17It's under the General Appropriations Act for 2024 to fund the unprogrammed appropriations or the approved projects

00:27but it's not yet decided where the money will go.

00:30Some health reform and anti-corruption advocates and budget analysts are working hard on this.

00:36But according to the Finance Department and PhilHealth, this step is legal.

00:40And since May, PhilHealth has already transferred Php60 billion to the National Treasury.

00:47The lessons learned from the transfer to the Supreme Court have fallen.

00:50And today, the Temporary Restraining Order or TRO was issued by the Supreme Court,

00:56which will stop the transfer of the government's unfunded funds to the various projects of the government.

01:04It only contains the funds that have not yet been transferred.

01:08The TRO is effective immediately.

01:10The TRO is just really to prevent the further transfer of more funds from PhilHealth to the National Treasury.

01:17The TRO will not stop the transfer of funds, even if it is in line with the petitioners' request.

01:23They include the group of Isang Bayan, Bayan Muna and the group of medical professionals and concerned citizens and Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel.

01:33The Supreme Court has consolidated or heard at the same time the petitions of the groups that questioned the constitutionality

01:40or compliance with the law on the transfer of unused PhilHealth funds.

01:45The oral arguments for this were filed on January 14, 2025.

01:50The Supreme Court gave ten days for the respondents to comment,

01:55including the leaders of the Finance Department, Congress and PhilHealth.

01:58According to PhilHealth, this will follow the decision of the Supreme Court.

02:03They are still able to provide health protection through a better benefit package and availment policy.

02:11The Finance Department will also immediately consult with Secretary Ralph Recto.

02:16They have also prepared the oral arguments to clarify the issues.

02:21The Office of the Solicitor General, which oversees the respondents, respects the TRO of the Supreme Court.

02:29In the name of the petitioner Isang Bayan, he thanked Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio

02:35and said that this is a salvation to the millions of Filipinos who are in dire need of PhilHealth.

02:43Independent Health Reform Advocate Dr. Tony Leachon also approved the decision of the Supreme Court.

02:50They hope that they will be able to return the transfer of funds.

02:53It's time for the Supreme Court to make a decision.

02:56For GMA Integrated News, I am Salima Rafra, your witness.

SAKSI RECAP: Paglilipat ng unused funds ng Philhealth sa Nat'l treasury, pinatitigil muna ng sc; DOF at Philhealth, susunod daw sa utos (Originally aired on October 29, 2024)

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