PhilHealth will receive AN ADDITIONAL P16.5 BILLION after the BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE approved the transfer of funds from DPWH. As a result, PhilHealth's total budget for 2026 reaches P129.76 BILLION, up from zero subsidy in 2025.
The approved amount includes P53.13 BILLION for the NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM and the returned P60 BILLION that was wrongly transferred to the national treasury in 2024. According to SEN. SHERWIN GATCHALIAN, there was P20.7 BILLION SAVINGS after recomputing the cost of DPWH projects.
SEN. LOREN LEGARDA said that the P16.5 BILLION is based on the lack of funds from the SIN TAX, which should have gone to PhilHealth according to the law. He added that this is the first time that PhilHealth's budget is correct and sufficient based on the correct computation.
The PhilHealth budget has been in trouble in recent years due to what is called “excess funds.” But according to the SUPREME COURT, there are no “unused excess funds” and the funds should be used for BETTER BENEFITS and LOWER CONTRIBUTIONS of members.
Apart from PhilHealth, the NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION FUND was also increased by P4.2 BILLION. While the DPWH budget has been approved, it is not yet clear how much it will finally receive after the reduced amounts.