SC hears debate on PhilHealth funds transfer

During an oral argument at the Supreme Court, Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier questioned the government's lawyer about the transfer of PhilHealth's unutilized funds to the national treasury.

Justice Lazaro-Javier pointed out that the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges project is fully funded by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea and asked why there was an urgency to move additional funds.

The government's lawyer, Jose C. Manalo, said he would have to check if the PGN funds were moved to unprogrammed government funds or deferred.

Justice Lazaro-Javier also questioned whether the national treasury had used these funds for specific road projects and why there was a need for additional funding under unprogrammed appropriations when other funds were already set aside for road maintenance.

The oral arguments, which began on February 25, continue to address petitions filed by various groups against the transfer of PhilHealth's excess funds, including those from Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Bayan Muna.