House panel proposes emergency powers for Duterte to reorganize PhilHealth

A joint House of Representatives committee proposed granting President Duterte emergency powers to reorganize the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and address corruption.

The proposal aims to stop the financial bleeding at the state insurer, with allegations of a "PhilHealth mafia" stealing P15 billion.

Anakalusugan party-list Representative Michael Defensor stated that some senators appear confused about the urgency of PhilHealth reforms, despite acknowledging irregularities.

Defensor, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, believes emergency powers are necessary for the president to have a free hand in reorganizing PhilHealth during the investigation.

He explained that these powers would allow the president to abolish or create offices, split, group, or merge positions, and transfer functions, records, and personnel to make PhilHealth more responsive and efficient.

However, Senator Panfilo Lacson believes Duterte already possesses sufficient powers and that strong political will and existing government instrumentalities are sufficient to cleanse PhilHealth.

Lacson also noted that since PhilHealth is a creation of law, Duterte would actually need an act of Congress to be delegated reorganization powers.