Labor coalition asks to intervene in petition vs PhilHealth fund transfer

A labor coalition has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to allow them to intervene in the petition against the transfer of P89.9-billion excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

In a motion for intervention, the NAGKAISA Labor Coalition and allied trade unions said the transfer of the funds is an “act of negative social justice.”

According to the coalition, the transfer “diverts resources away from those who are most in need, favoring loosely structured, flexible, and unprogrammed projects that are susceptible to corruption.” 

A petition seeking the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the transfer of funds from PhilHealth to the national treasury was filed with the SC in August.

The high court was also asked to undo and restrain the effects of Department of Finance (DOF) Circular 003-2024, and a provision in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024 that was used as basis for the DOF circular pending the resolution of the case.

NAGKAISA said that of the P89.9 billion, P30 billion was already transferred to the national treasury.

“The workers and their families, who are the primary beneficiaries of PhilHealth, are at risk of losing the health benefits and services that these funds are intended to provide,” Atty. Sonny Matula, the counsel for intervenors, said in a statement.

In July, the DOF defended the utilization of unused and idle funds of government corporations, saying this was “more prudent” than borrowing or imposing taxes.

In a briefing after Marcos' third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said DOF Secretary Ralph Recto had “promised“ that the unused funds would be utilized for health-related programs. 

Herbosa serves as chair of the PhilHealth Board of Directors. —KBK, GMA Integrated News