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NewsTranscript
00:00From 2022 to 2024, Php 51.5 billion was invested in the DepEd computerization program, according to Senate President Cheese Escudero.
00:11That's more than Php 10 billion in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024, almost Php 16 billion was invested but not spent by DepEd.
00:22Of the Php 51.5 billion invested in the program, 70% was not used.
00:27That's why it's understandable why the Congress allocated that much for 2025.
00:33DepEd and Secretary Sonny Angara should know this because they reported to the Congress in the middle of budget deliberations
00:40about the dismal utilization or improper use of DepEd funds.
00:45Senator Aimee Marcos has a question.
00:47In the event of savings, it can be added, but it's a big if.
00:52Is there really savings?
00:54In the amount of funds allocated to the program, are we really sure?
01:01We're not sure.
01:03Meanwhile, our crisis in education, there's no doubt about that.
01:08Senator Migzubiri said that the President can call the BICAM again to fix this.
01:14But some members of the BICAM are against it.
01:17I don't think there's any need for us to reconvene as a BICAM because we've already ratified it in both chambers,
01:24so in both the Senate and in both the House.
01:27So we're very satisfied with the versions.
01:30Whatever will be the move of the executive within this time until the signing, let's just wait.
01:37The President can or may exercise his veto powers.
01:42Outside the chamber, there were protests by groups against the changes to the budget allocated to the BICAM,
01:48particularly the reduction of the funds for education and services, as well as the expansion of the budget of the Congress.
01:54That's why we're calling for the BICAM to be returned.
02:01This can really be done by the current Senate and Congress because they really have the power to do this.
02:11The fund allocated for the Congress is P31.29 billion under the planned budget allocated by the Budget Department last July.
02:19But in the BICAM, this amounted to more than P50 billion.
02:23P17.3 billion was added to the chamber, while P1.1 billion was added to the Senate.
02:28We are trying to get permission from the Chamber and the Senate to improve the budget of the Congress.
02:34As you can see, we are doing a lot of new structures and buildings, like for example this People's Center.
02:42And let's not also forget that the number of members of Congress is increasing.
02:47Some members of the BICAM cannot say where the added budget came from.
02:52I'm not privy to, although I'm in the BICAM, as where it was really taken.
02:57But when you look at the budget, we also take particular interest in how we do it balance with all.
03:06I cannot pinpoint. I don't think it's from DepEd.
03:09The amount from the subsidy was not removed from PhilHealth.
03:13No, it's not.
03:14The amount from the subsidy, like as previously explained, was used for the completion of the construction of the Philippine Cancer Center,
03:24the completion of the Mega Hemodialysis Center in the National Kidney,
03:29the continued expansion of the Lung Center of the Philippines,
03:32and the construction of specialty centers in various regional hospitals.
03:37For GMA Integrated News, Mav Gonzalez is your witness.
03:42...Tulfo, Abelian Nueva, Abelian Cintia, Abelian Marks, Zubik, and the Senate President.
03:46With 20 affirmative votes, 0 negatives, 0 abstentions, House Bill No. 5731 is approved in third reading.
03:53So your mind is on investment, not service.
03:58PhilHealth was criticized by the members of the Good Government and Public Accountability Committee of the Camera
04:04on why they seemed to invest their funds first rather than help the members, like the expansion of benefits.
04:12Congressman Romeo Acop of Antipolo said,
04:14within a year, PhilHealth earned an interesting investment of almost Php 10 billion.
04:21What I see is that you are already in business.
04:23The money of PhilHealth should be used to increase the package or to decrease the contribution.
04:32Sorry, Mr. Ledesma, I checked your background.
04:36You are good at investment, asset liabilities.
04:41I understand that you are good at investment.
04:44But this is an entirely different matter.
04:48Our investment here is the life of the people.
04:52We have already begun to change our policy.
04:55So yes, it is showing that our investments are increasing, so and so.
04:59Again, I am humbly asking this honorable committee to give us just a little more patience.
05:05And in the next few years, the trend will change and it will go around.
05:10PhilHealth is now aggressive in expanding benefits.
05:13They increased their benefit packages by 30% and next year, they will increase it by 50%.
05:21They earned Php 440 billion for 2025 in addition to the benefits.
05:29Remember, PhilHealth was removed from the 2025 national budget.
05:33President Marcos himself agreed with this because PhilHealth is not using it and it is just left in the bank.
05:40But where does PhilHealth bring the government subsidy they were given?
05:45The subsidy from the national government received by our government.
05:49And we included two things.
05:53Benefit payment.
05:56If we cannot use it, Mr. Chair, of course, we have also a collection from the direct contributors.
06:02We included it in the investment.
06:06You don't know how to run a health insurance program.
06:10That is our problem.
06:12And that is the reason why there is a zero subsidy.
06:16My apologies.
06:18DOH said that PhilHealth has a lot of money.
06:21At present, it has a surplus of Php 150 billion or a lot of funds.
06:26A reserve fund of Php 281 billion and an investment fund of Php 489 billion.
06:32This surplus is the result of a low benefit payment in the past years.
06:38That is why the Filipino families are paying a high amount from their pockets.
06:44Where did all our money come from?
06:46The first reason is that it has been 12 years since the case packages have been enhanced.
06:52Secondly, during the COVID pandemic, very few were going to the hospitals for treatment.
06:59That is why the money accumulates.
07:01Thirdly, we still have to implement the increase in premium contributions because it is already set by law.
07:09PhilHealth said that they do not have the power to lower the contribution of their members.
07:14But they promised that they will recommend this to the Congress.
07:18For GMA Integrated News, Jonathan Andal is your witness.
07:34My fellow countrymen, be the first to witness.
07:36Subscribe to GMA Integrated News on YouTube for more news.
07:44.