Push Admin

PhilHealth processes members’ transactions in Quezon City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File 

Article (news)

PhilHealth

Sherrie Ann Torres

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1724911532342172361206846220230926-philhealth office-MT-6.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="PhilHealth processes members’ transactions in Quezon City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">PhilHealth processes members’ transactions in Quezon City.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A health group on Thursday kicked off its information and signature drive to stop the Department of Finance&#x27;s (DOF) order to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to transfer P89.9 billion of its funds to the National Treasury.</p><div><span id="isPasted"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/16/philhealth-fund-transfer-points-to-fiscal-mess-and-is-illegal-up-econ-prof-1627">• PhilHealth fund transfer points to fiscal mess, and is illegal: UP econ prof</a></span></div><p>Some 300 senior citizens were briefed by former Population Commission Executive Director, Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III about the impact of the DOF&#x27;s order.</p><p>Perez, co-chairperson of Medical Action Group, raised fears about the PhilHealth&#x27;s &quot;dwindling&quot; funds, which he said will eventually dry up due to Finance chief Ralph Recto&#x27;s decision to siphon the members&#x27; contribution in favor of other government projects.</p><p>&quot;In the long run, sa 2025, baka wala nang pondo sa mahirap... Yung mga miyembrong nagbabayad, yung mga monthly nagko-contribute. Baka sila na ang umaksyon at sabihin nila &#x27;Bakit kami ang magbabayad? Ninanakaw lang ninyo ang pera,&#x27;&quot; Perez alleged.</p><p>&quot;Parang dalawang beses kang nagbayad ng tax. Nagbayad ka na ng tax, tapos yung pera mo sa PhilHealth para sa kalusugan, kukunin para gamitin sa road project, project na tulay o anuman,&quot; he added.</p><p>The transfer of PhilHealth funds, Perez insisted, will also further limit the government&#x27;s health coverage of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigents.</p><p>&quot;Ang pag-alis ng pondo ng PhilHealth ay makakaapekto sa mahirap, sa elderly o may katandaan at mga may kapansanan. Ang perang inalis sa PhilHealth ay pera ng mahirap at pera rin ng mga miyembro,&quot; said Perez.</p><p>He said senior citizens, indigents, and PWDs in the country are estimated to be at 22 million, and take around 30 percent of government&#x27;s health program fund.</p><p>Perez said his group is mulling filing an &quot;urgent motion&quot; at the Supreme Court regarding DOF&#x27;s order.</p><div><strong>PETITION LETTER</strong></div><p>Minutes after Perez&#x27;s presentation, some senior citizens signed a petition letter urging Recto, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, and PhilHealth board members to stop the fund transfer.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/19/government-urged-to-stop-philhealth-fund-transfers-1519">• PHOTO: Government urged to stop Philhealth fund transfers</a></div><p>Lydia Loganob, 63, said they need to be assured of a steady health program from the government.</p><p>&quot;Kung wala na palang pondo ang PhilHealth doon... hindi (kakayanin magpa-ospital). Sa mahal ba naman ng mga ano (bilihin),&quot; Loganob said.</p><p>Teodora Mosqueda, 68, said they need to be assured of a continuous government support.</p><p>&quot;Kung mawalan kami ng pondo, hindi namin alam kung ililipat nila, paano nga po kami? Kasi kami mga senior na, hindi naman kami lahat may hanapbuhay,&quot; Mosqueda said.</p><div><strong>&#x27;FAKE NEWS&#x27; </strong></div><p>Recto, in a text statement, dubbed Perez&#x27;s claims as &quot;fake news,&quot; as he cited the stable liquidity of PhilHealth.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/14/recto-philhealth-to-end-2024-with-p546-billion-despite-fund-transfer-1300">• Recto: PhilHealth to end 2024 with P546 billion despite fund transfer</a></div><p>&quot;That’s fake news. PhilHealth has more than P500 billion, good for 2 to 3 years,&quot; Recto said.</p><p>PhilHealth, in a separate statement, also allayed the fears of its members.</p><p>&quot;No need to fear, under the UHC, their coverage and benefits are guaranteed.. and PhilHealth naman po is true to its commitment to enhance the existing benefits and introduce new ones para mas lalo madam ng miyembro ang mga ito,&quot; the agency said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TaLYWJfY91o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Some 300 senior citizens were briefed by former Population Commission Executive Director, Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III about the impact of the DOF's order.</p>

Some 300 senior citizens were briefed by former Population Commission Executive Director, Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III about the impact of the DOF's order.

Signature drive launched vs PhilHealth fund transfer

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Business

Signature drive launched vs PhilHealth fund transfer

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 29, 2024 04:32 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

Philhealth

DOF

Department of Finance

fake news

fund transfer

protest

signature campaign

ANC

ANC promo

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.