(Tutustusan ng sobrang pondo ng Philhealth, GOCCs) P203-BILYONG PROYEKTO

INILABAS ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang listahan ng mga proyekto na tutustusan ng sobrang pondo ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) at iba pang government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).

Ang PhilHealth ay nasa proseso ng pagsasauli ng kabuuang P89.9 billion na halaga ng government subsidies sa Bureau of the Treasury makaraang hindi ito magamit.

Nauna na ring tinukoy ng Department of Finance (DOF) ang Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) bilang isa pang GOCC na may bilyon-bilyong unused funds o P110 billion na kailangang i-remit.

Ayon kay Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, ang mga ito ay gagamitin para pondohan ang 11 priority programs sa ilalim ng unprogrammed appropriations na nagkakahalaga ng P203 billion.

Ang mga programa ay ang mga sumusunod:
• Government counterpart of foreign-assisted projects (P51.7 billion)
• Personnel benefits (P27.6 billion)
• Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care and Non-healthcare Workers (P27.7 billion)
• NEDA-PSA: Community-Based Monitoring System (P3.6 billion)
• Payment of right-of-way (P3 billion)
• Maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities (routine maintenance of national roads) – P6 billion
• Proposed Salary Standardization Law VI (P40 billion)
• Fiscal support arrearages for Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program (P415 million)
• Support to Barangay Development Program of NTF-ELCAC (P6.5 billion)
• Department of Public Works and Highway’s various projects (P26.6 billion)
• Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (P10 billion)

Inalmahan ng mga health worker group at maging ng labor union ng PhilHealth, kasama ang public budget analysts, ang paglilipat ng pondo na iniutos ng DOF dahil sa umano’y pagiging ilegal nito.

Naniniwala rin sila na dapat gamitin ang pondo ng PhilHealth para palawakin ang coverage ng state insurer.