Marcos vows scrutiny of 2025 budget, justifies PhilHealth zero subsidy

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PCO file photo)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to thoroughly go over the 2025 national budget amid issues surrounding some of its items, even as he justified the zero subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for next year.

Speaking to members of the media in Malacañang, Marcos said the Office of the President is still reviewing the detailed version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), especially those that have been described as “worrisome elements” of the spending plan.

He, however, clarified that he has not reached the point where he needs to use his veto power to strike down questionable parts of the budget.

“The process is still ongoing. We’re still finalizing because ang lumabas sa bicam (what came out of the bicameral conference committee) were just total. So the details, hindi pa maliwanag (are not yet clear),” Marcos told reporters.

“We’re returning to those and all those elements that are worrisome are something we’re trying to, making sure na hindi ma-disadvantage (that they are not at a disadvantage).”

Despite this, the President said he would make sure that the budget bill would be signed before Christmas, as earlier announced by the Palace.

“Pipilitin ko talaga (I’ll do everything to ensure) that we will finish it by then,” he said.

Last week, the bicameral conference committee approved the PHP6.352 trillion 2025 budget bill.

PhilHealth zero subsidy

Marcos, meanwhile, justified the zero subsidy for PhilHealth next year, citing the state insurer’s ample reserve funds.

According to the President, the state insurer has no budgetary issues owing to its estimated reserve of PHP500 billion.

PhilHealth is responsible for providing health insurance and implementing universal health care coverage nationwide.

“They have sufficient funds to carry on. Because ang problema ng PhilHealth hindi tungkol sa pagbigay ng serbisyo, hindi sa pagbigay ng insurance cover. Hindi yan ang problema (The problem with PhilHealth is not on their services and insurance cover. That is not the problem),” he said.

“Ang problema kung titignan ninyo (The problem is, if you look closely), you look at the reports that are happening, sa dami ng bagong services ng PhilHealth, sa dami ng mga bagong payment na binibigay ng PhilHealth, nababara ang sistema (PhilHealth’s system gets clogged because of the volume of their new services and payments).”

“You can see there are, in the provinces, merong mga tao nag-aantay buong araw ‘yung pila dalawang daang tao naghihintay ng claim (as many as 200 people wait in line for an entire day to get their claim),” he added.

Infrastructure budget

Likewise, the Chief Executive vowed to scrutinize insertions in the infrastructure budget and determine which items are “absolutely necessary.”

“We’ll look into the insertion in the public works and see which ones are absolutely necessary, and maybe ‘yung iba titignan natin baka kritikal (some of them may be critical). We’ll see,” he said.

He, however, noted that infrastructure remains among the top recipients of the budget to ensure the continuity of the program, especially the big-ticket projects.

“We have big projects that we have to put in place. Infrastructure is important. And don’t forget flood control, which became such a big, big part of the work of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),” Marcos said.

“We had to build things that we never had to build before… We have to spend to support people ‘pag nalagay sila sa alanganin (when they are in a tight situation).”