Phil Health transfers another P10 B to treasury

Amid opposition from medical groups, former health secretaries and other groups, the second tranche of idle funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) worth P10 billion has been transferred to state coffers.

- LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

Asked to confirm whether the transfer proceeded yesterday as scheduled, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto answered in the affirmative.

"Yes. There's a schedule of remittances," Recto said in a Viber message.

The P10 billion is part of the P89.9 billion in "unused" funds of PhilHealth that the Department of Finance ordered returned to the Bureau of the Treasury to fund unprogrammed appropriations - the latest version of the congressional pork barrel.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros is urging PhilHealth to stop the transfer of the remaining P70 billion amid a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the impounding of the funds as illegal this.

The National Security Council (NSC) said they “particularly raised grave concerns on the recent illegal, aggressive and dangerous actions of China’s People’s Liberation Army-Air Force against a Philippine Air Force aircraft conducting a routine maritime security operation over Bajo de Masinloc.”

Both also discussed how China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels harassed and rammed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships in the area of the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal while en route to Patag Island and Lawak Island.