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NewsTranscript
00:00The National Treasury will stop using the PhilHealth fund based on the Supreme Court's order.
00:07But the remaining funds will be used up and not the first P60 billion that was used up.
00:15Salima Refran has the first news.
00:21Almost P60 billion.
00:23The fund is so big that PhilHealth is not using it anymore.
00:27That's why the Department of Finance is putting it back in the Bureau of Treasury
00:31under the Visa of the Department Circular 003-2024.
00:35This is in accordance with the General Appropriations Act for 2024
00:40to fund the unprogrammed appropriations or the projects that are already approved
00:45but not yet determined where the funds will be used.
00:48The implementation of some health reforms and anti-corruption advocates and budget analysts is not yet decided.
00:55But according to the Finance Department and PhilHealth, this step is legal.
00:59And since May, PhilHealth was able to transfer P60 billion to the National Treasury.
01:06The lessons from the transfer to the Supreme Court that fell.
01:10The Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order or TRO
01:14that will stop the transfer of the government of the unused PhilHealth fund
01:20to the various projects of the government.
01:23What's left of it is what hasn't been transferred.
01:26The TRO is effective immediately.
01:28The TRO is just really to prevent the further transfer of more funds
01:32from PhilHealth to the National Treasury.
01:35The TRO is not yet ready to return the transferred funds
01:38even though it is part of the petitioners' request.
01:41They include the group of Isang Bayan, Bayan Muna,
01:44and the group of Medical Professionals and Concerned Citizens
01:48and Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel.
01:51The Supreme Court has consolidated or heard at the same time
01:55the petitions of the groups questioning the constitutionality
01:59or compliance with the Constitution of the transfer of unused PhilHealth funds.
02:04The oral arguments for this were filed on January 14, 2025.
02:09The Supreme Court gave 10 days to comment on the respondents
02:13as leaders of the Finance Department, Congress, and PhilHealth.
02:17According to PhilHealth, it will follow the decision of the Supreme Court
02:20that they still have a chance to provide health protection
02:24through better benefit package and availment policy.
02:29The Finance Department will also immediately intervene according to Secretary Ralph Recto.
02:34They have also prepared the oral arguments
02:37to clarify the issues.
02:39The Office of the Solicitor General, which is coordinating the respondents,
02:45respects the TRO of the Supreme Court.
02:47In the name of the petitioner of Isang Bayan,
02:49he thanked Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
02:53and said that this is a salvation for the millions of Filipinos
02:58who are only relying on PhilHealth.
03:01Independent Health Reform Advocate Dr. Tony Leachon also approved
03:06the decision of the Supreme Court.
03:08They are hoping to get back the transfer of funds
03:11when the Supreme Court makes a decision.
03:14This is the first news in 5 days for JMA Integrated News.