President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the decision to allocate zero budget for PhilHealth in 2024.
In an interview at Malacañang, Marcos explained that PhilHealth has a reserve fund amounting to ₱500 billion.
He noted that PhilHealth’s annual service funding requirement does not exceed ₱100 billion.
PhilHealth’s expenses are estimated at just over ₱100 billion, leaving a substantial reserve.
Marcos added that the Department of Finance withdrew the budget allocation after observing significant unutilized funds over the past two years.
Government subsidies for PhilHealth, he said, remained idle in its bank accounts during this period.
The President expressed confidence that PhilHealth can independently sustain its expenses, services, and operational needs.