Gov't can return P29.9 B PhilHealth funds, if...

The Marcos administration has contingency plans to return the P29.9 billion that remain out of the total P89.9 billion in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) funds, whose constitutionality is now pending with the Supreme Court.

- By DELON PORCALLA

"If the SC decides that the executive branch will have to return this money, then naturally the national government will comply. We will put it in the budget. That budget will be passed by Congress and we will comply," Finance Secretary Ralph Recto assured Rep. Jose Manuel Diokno.

But this will only be the scenario, according to Recto, if the high tribunal hands down its ruling after the budget season, or until after both the House and the Senate finalizes the 2026 national budget of P6.793 trillion after this year ends.

"Now, if assuming that the decision is made in the middle of the budget year, then that will increase the deficit and it may affect our credit rating. Ergo, if we are to comply, we do it in the succeeding year's budget," Recto said.