PhilHealth Subsidy Changes Stir Controversy in Congress
Antipolo 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno firmly stated on August 12, 2025, that the recent PhilHealth subsidy changes worth P74 billion did not originate within the House of Representatives. Despite not being part of the 19th Congress, Puno emphasized that these alterations occurred beyond the House’s jurisdiction.
During a press briefing, Puno responded to concerns raised by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson regarding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation subsidy under the 2025 national budget. Lacson criticized the realignment as illegal, arguing it effectively amended the Sin Tax Law — a special law — through the General Appropriations Act (GAA), a general law, which violates legislative principles.
House Version of Budget Kept PhilHealth Subsidy Intact
Puno expressed agreement with Lacson’s legal stance, calling the realignment “really wrong.” However, he highlighted that the House’s version of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) retained the full PhilHealth subsidy. “The House crafted and approved the proposed budget bill, and the PhilHealth budget was intact,” Puno explained.
He further noted that the Department of Education (DepEd) budget was even increased in the House draft, while the Public Works budget was reduced. Contrastingly, the final GAA showed the PhilHealth trust fund removed, DepEd’s budget trimmed, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget raised.
Questions Surrounding Budget Realignments Remain Unanswered
Members of the National Unity Party, including Puno, are determined to uncover who authorized these budget realignments before deliberations on the 2026 budget begin. “Who made the changes? How was the PhilHealth budget removed? These didn’t happen at the House level,” Puno said.
He also questioned the increases in the DPWH budget, asking, “Who benefitted from this? Is it true, as Senator Vicente Sotto III believes, that the Senate leadership was involved?” Puno stressed the need for clarity, as his party agreed not to scrutinize the 2026 budget until the 2025 budget’s mysteries are resolved.
Legal Concerns Over PhilHealth Subsidy Realignment
Senator Lacson raised alarms during a Senate session, pointing out that the GAA, a general law, cannot amend the Sin Tax Law, which is special legislation. “The House and Senate have lawyers, so how did this slip through?” Lacson questioned, calling the budget realignment illegal.
Puno, viewing the issue as an outsider, wondered why the House is blamed when the official House budget did not include these changes. “The DPWH budget increase came at the expense of DepEd and the removal of the trust fund. Somebody benefitted,” he said, demanding accountability.
Historical Budget Controversies and Calls for Investigation
The 2025 budget has faced scrutiny since its bicameral conference committee finalization. Earlier, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab and former President Rodrigo Duterte claimed the budget was illegal due to blanks in the bicam report. Acting House appropriations chair Stella Quimbo countered that these blanks were placeholders for final calculations and that the Senate’s finance committee prepared the report.
Six months later, Lacson warned that funds for flood control projects might have been lost to corruption. Both Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III have called for investigations, with Sotto describing last-minute budget insertions as “scandalous” and possibly worse than past pork barrel schemes.
Speculation on Beneficiaries of Budget Realignments
Social media discussions have linked Senate President Francis Escudero to Centerways Construction, a firm awarded multiple flood control contracts. Escudero confirmed a P30 million donation from the company to his 2022 campaign but denied influencing contract awards.
As the budget debate intensifies, lawmakers and the public await transparency on the PhilHealth subsidy changes and other reallocations. The ongoing controversy underscores the need for clearer budget processes and accountability in government spending.
For more news and updates on PhilHealth subsidy changes, visit Filipinokami.com.
