The Supreme Court has ordered the amount to be returned to the state insurer in 2026.
During the Palace Press Briefing on Wednesday, December 10, Malafañang defended the utilization of the excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth), which amounted to PHP60 billion, in 2024.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, citing the Department of Health (DOH), dismissed claims raised by some sectors about the use of the funds.
She noted that the bulk of the money was allocated to various government health and social service programs, including the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) for healthcare workers.
“Ayon sa report ng DOH (Department of Health) noong Martes, umabot sa halos 6 million na healthcare workers ang nakinabang sa nasabing programa ng PhilHealth,” with Castro adding that the HEA was given to medical frontliners who served during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from the HEA, Castro also said that the funds were also used for other programs, such as the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients and procurement of medical equipment for DOH hospitals, local government unit hospitals, and primary care facilities.
The Palace Press Officer also emphasized that a huge chunk of the funds also went to three DOH health facilities and the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
Castro said that under the current administration, funds go to programs that aim to uplift the living conditions of the public, especially in terms of healthcare coverage.
Her comments come after tge Supreme Court recently ordered the return of PhilHealth’s PHP60 billion fund, which was remitted to the national treasury in 2024, to the state insurer.
The amount was said to be part of the “excess” PhilHealth funds totaling PhP89.9 billion that was intended to be moved to the national treasury. The remaining balance, however, was not transferred following an SC-issued temporary restraining order.
However, priro to that, in September 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the government has already restored PhilHealth’s PHP60 billion excess funds.
ONE MILLION FILIPINOS BENEFITTED FROM ZERO BALANCE BILLING PROGRAM
Meanwhile, Malacañang also said that more than one million Filipinos have benefitted from the government’s zero balance billing policy in just four months.
“[…]umabot na sa higit 1,078,000 patients ang natulungan ng zero-balance billing program ng Department of Health matapos lamang ang apat na buwan,” said Castro.
During his Fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, President Marcos said that the government is implementing a zero-balance billing policy to ease the financial burden on patients.
Through which, patients admitted to a basic or ward accommodation in a DOH-listed hospital will have all medical expenses fully covered.
Castro said the DOH is sustaining the full implementation of zero-balance billing in public hospitals to ensure the people will receive the maximum healthcare benefits.
“Makakaasa ang mga kababayan natin na mananatiling abot-kamay ang maayos na kalidad ng serbisyo ng mga pampublikong ospital at libre ang pagpapagamot para sa mga lubos na nangangailangan,” added the Palace official.