PhilHealth says P138 million budget for 30th anniversary, not Christmas party
State medical insurer PhilHealth refuted accusations made by Dr. Tony Leachon, who said that the agency's leadership team is not using its funds "wisely."
In a Facebook post, the former special adviser for non-communicable diseases at the Department of Health accused PhilHealth of spending P138 million on its Christmas party. He shared a photo of a supposed PhilHealth document detailing allocation for items including tokens for employees, coffee table books, and more.
"Nagagamit naman ng husto pondo ng philhealth - para sa mga Christmas party contrary to the request of BBM for not spending much this [Christmas] at sa upcoming 30th Anniversary na P138M ang budget," he wrote.
"Kapal lang talaga pagmumukha nila. Ayaw ipa resign ng congress and senate. Happy together. Good luck" Leachon added, noting that these matters made the "people suffering."
Leachon later edited his post to say that the P138 million fund was for the state insurer's anniversary party.
This came after PhilHealth countered his claims in a statement, saying that Leachon was "misinformed."
The agency also clarified that they are "fully complying" with the directive of Malacañang to scale down agency celebrations for the Christmas season, adding that the breakdown of expenses posted by Leachon is "not yet final" and is intended for the 30th-anniversary celebration in 2025 which they called a "milestone year."
"The approved activities are reasonable, budgeted following existing limits set by the Government, and will be procured under RA 9184. These activities aim to mount a meaningful observance of this milestone year, and will be leveraged to further engage our members and stakeholders to drum up interest and awareness on the many reforms that the Corporation is pursuing especially on the enhancement of the benefit packages as envisioned in the Universal Health Care law."
The state insurer also urged Leachon “to be more responsible and cautious before releasing any statements that may mislead the public.”
"Philhealth assures the public that it is committed to transparency and prudence in the stewardship of the member's fund," the health insurer concluded.
'Tone-deaf and ostentatious'
Leachon then responded on Saturday, Dec. 14, to PhilHealth, saying that no matter how the budget was framed, whether for a Christmas party or a milestone anniversary, "the staggering amount earmarked for such events is tone-deaf and ostentatious at a time when millions of Filipinos are suffering."
"We must not lose sight of the bigger picture. The Filipino people are enduring relentless hardships—from the lack of healthcare subsidies to the diversion of 90 billion to the national treasury for unprogrammed appropriations. Meanwhile, PhilHealth’s members continue to carry the burden of unpaid claims and rising out-of-pocket expenses. Whether the budget list is final or not, the amount still reflects a glaring lack of discretion in spending public funds," he said.
He added, "Contrast this kind of celebration with the reality of mothers skipping meals to feed their children, fathers working two or three jobs yet still unable to afford basic healthcare, and countless families who have lost everything to recent typhoons and calamities. These families cling desperately to the hope that government institutions like PhilHealth will prioritize their welfare."
Leachon went on to emphasize that "celebration, no matter how well-intentioned, must not overshadow the urgent realities faced by our country."
"How can we justify these expenses when patients in government hospitals are still sharing beds, when the Universal Health Care Law that promises accessible healthcare for all remains underfunded, and when the very members who fund PhilHealth are drowning in unpaid claims and ballooning medical debts?"
On Dec. 11, the bicameral conference committee meeting revealed that PhilHealth will receive no additional subsidy from the national government in the 2025 budget.
The Senate cited the agency's substantial unutilized P600 billion fund as the primary reason for the denial. Sen. Grace Poe, the national budget's sponsor in the Senate, said the insurer should first exhaust its reserves fund.
"Naka-deposito lang yan sa... kung anong account nila nilalagay, but definitely kung anong kinikita niyan, mas maliit pa sa, mas mababa pa sa inflation. So, lugi pa yung gobyerno," the senator said.
Poe also noted that the supposed allocation will be redirected to sectors needing it most.
Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), proposed by the Executive Department, P74.43 billion was appropriated as a subsidy for PhilHealth.
However, the Senate reduced it to P64.419 billion, and then the bicam, composed of members from the Senate and the House of Representatives, decided to remove the subsidy for PhilHealth entirely.
