CONGRESS and the executive branch are constitutionally obliged to comply with the Supreme Court directive to return P60 billion to PhilHealth by explicitly appropriating the amount in the 2026 national budget, Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said on Monday.
Garin issued the statement in response to calls from some quarters suggesting that the P60 billion be sourced instead from assets to be recovered from public officials and contractors implicated in alleged kickbacks linked to flood control projects.
“I hope they are not suggesting that Congress – the House of Representatives and Senate – and Malacañang defy the Supreme Court decision to return the P60 billion remitted by PhilHealth to the national treasury last year by allocating the same amount in next year’s budget,” she said.
“The Supreme Court directive
is clear: Congress must include the P60 billion in the 2026 outlay. Sourcing the amount from elsewhere would amount to defiance of a Supreme Court ruling,” Garin stressed.
“Pinapasama sa budget para siguradong maibabalik sa PhilHealth ang pera ng mga miyembro, kaysa maghagilap pa ng pondo kung saan-saan. Mas mabuti na ito, dahil ito ay perang malinaw na mailalaan sa PhilHealth sa pamamagitan ng batas,” she added.
“Hindi ko naman sila maintindihan – hindi ba mas maganda na ang pera ay siguradong hawak na, o tiyak na darating, kaysa umaasa sa perang hahanapin pa?” Garin asked.
She noted that in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last September 20, the House of Representatives already included the P60 billion in the proposed 2026 national budget, a move subsequently supported by the Senate.
Garin warned that relying on the recovery of assets from individuals allegedly involved in ghost and substandard flood control projects would delay the return of funds to PhilHealth and prejudice millions of its members.
“I doubt whether the assets eventually recovered would even be sufficient. As of now, only P110 million has been voluntarily turned over by a Bulacan district engineer, while frozen bank accounts and other assets are valued at about P13 billion. Clearly, these amounts fall far short,” she said.
She added that asset recovery is subject to lengthy and complex legal proceedings that could take years to conclude.
The former health secretary urged advocates claiming to defend PhilHealth to recognize the importance of what has already been secured through the budget process.
“PhilHealth is set to receive a total of P113 billion – P60 billion in restituted funds and an additional P53 billion in government subsidy,” Garin said.
Nonetheless, she emphasized that accountability must not stop at budget compliance.
“Those responsible for the flood control mess must still be held accountable, and restitution must be relentlessly pursued,” Garin said.
