House Includes P60-B Return to PhilHealth in 2026 Budget

House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong confirmed that the House of Representatives has included a P60-billion fund to be returned to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the proposed 2026 national budget.

Adiong highlighted that this move was taken in October, prior to the Supreme Court's declaration that the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) provision authorizing the transfer of excess funds from Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) to the National Treasury was illegal.

He stated that the action to return the P60 billion to PhilHealth was in direct response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order. "Kung may proseso sa pagkuha, may proseso sa pagbalik. At iyan ay sa pamamagitan ng national budget. The mechanism for returning the money is the same as the mechanism in getting it," Adiong stressed.

"The House has done what the law requires. We followed the President's directive, we followed the Constitution, and we returned the P60 billion through the national budget," he added.

This statement came in reaction to Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David's suggestion that President Marcos and Congress should not simply "backfill" the P60 billion ordered to be returned but instead should seek recovery of the funds from those who allegedly profited from their diversion.

According to the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by Malacañang, PhilHealth was initially allotted P53 billion. However, during deliberations, the House added the P60 billion to comply with the President's instructions, bringing PhilHealth's total allocation to P113 billion.

The additional budget for PhilHealth was funded through savings identified from a review of the Department of Public Works and Highways' proposed 2026 budget, which totals P255.5 billion.