By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo courtesy: Philstar Global
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will recover ?60 billion in excess funds to expand its services and ensure wider access to healthcare, based on savings of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2026 budget proposal, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Saturday, Sept. 20.
“Yung mga savings natin na bago, na galing sa ibang-ibang departamento, but mainly from Department of Public Works and Highways, 'yung 60 billion na 'yan, ibabalik na natin sa PhilHealth,” Marcos Jr. said.
Department of Finance (DOF) had earlier directed PhilHealth to remit excess subsidies amounting to ?89.9 billion back to the national treasury.
Of this, ?60 billion was already transferred, while ?29.9 billion remained with the state insurer until the Supreme Court halted further remittances through a temporary restraining order, following petitions from then Sen. Koko Pimentel and the Philippine Medical Association.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto explained that the funds previously transferred were used to support allowances for COVID-19 frontliners, provide medical aid to indigent patients, and expand Department of Health (DOH) facilities, among other initiatives.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa praised the action, describing it as a 'major step' toward improving Universal Health Care.
"As Chair of the PhilHealth Board of Directors, DOH sees this move as crucial for ongoing efforts to expand health benefits and services for all Filipinos," Herbosa said in a statement.
He noted that while DOH hospitals already enforce Zero Balance Billing, the long-term goal is for PhilHealth to cover the majority of hospital expenses nationwide.
“...They are dedicated to making essential health services more accessible to every Filipino family,”
The announcement comes as the DPWH faces congressional scrutiny for alleged misconduct involving multitrillion-peso projects and questionable contracts. The agency's 2026 budget, one of the largest in the government's spending program, is being reviewed as calls for tougher fiscal discipline increase.