Published in its print edition on February 15 – 21, 2025
The issue of how and where unused funds from government-run organizations go has long been a topic of discussion in the country. If PhilHealth has a significant amount of idle funds and these are allocated to other equally important matters, will they still be used for healthcare, or will they be redirected toward improving government-built infrastructures such as schools?
According to former Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, transferring the idle funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) is a wise move.
PhilHealth’s funds come from its paying members, ensuring financial support for their healthcare needs when necessary. These funds are strictly intended for healthcare purposes.
Teves also stated that the government has the authority to reallocate idle funds for essential projects and programs. He added that utilizing these funds for key government initiatives would not pose a threat to PhilHealth members.
On one hand, Teves’ proposal could bring benefits if the idle funds are spent wisely and allocated to the right projects. These funds could be used to renovate or improve school classrooms, which, in turn, would still align with the goal of promoting health. A well-maintained learning environment contributes to the well-being of students.
However, looking at the other side, there are also challenges. Since PhilHealth’s funds come from its members, the government may struggle to convince them to allow a portion of these funds to be used for national projects. Is it truly justifiable to use these idle funds for government initiatives, especially when many funded projects remain unfinished?
