During the session held this Tuesday, April 21, the High Court scrutinized the use of unprogrammed funds in the 2024–2026 budgets—a legal battle that follows the landmark ruling last December declaring the transfer of PhP60 billion in PhilHealth funds as unconstitutional.
For Go, the ongoing oral arguments prove that the government has the capacity for “financial gymnastics” when it wants to, but seems slow to act when it comes to the fuel crisis.
“Habang nagpapalitan ng mga legal arguments ang mga abogado sa Korte Suprema tungkol sa unprogrammed funds, simple lang ang tanong ng mga drayber at komyuter natin sa kalsada: ‘Kung nakahanap kayo ng paraan na walisin ang bilyun-bilyong pondo ng PhilHealth noon, bakit ngayon sa fuel relief parang laging sagot ay walang pondo?’” Go said.
The Senator emphasized that if the government can argue in the Supreme Court that "excess funds" can be moved to unprogrammed items for various projects, those same resources should be prioritized to address the difficult situation Filipinos are facing due to the global oil crisis.
“Hindi pwedeng selective ang ating pagiging proactive. If there was money to move from PhilHealth for unprogrammed appropriations, then there is definitely money to help the heavily-affected sectors. Ang pera ng bayan ay dapat gamitin para sa serbisyong direktang nararamdaman ng bawat Pilipino, lalo na ang mga apektado ng krisis sa langis,” he added.
The lawmaker, however, reiterated that PhilHealth funds should be spared from efforts to raise fuel relief funds.
Go, who serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, underscored that the Supreme Court case is directly relevant to the "sikmura" of ordinary citizens. He pointed out that the "double whammy" of the fund sweep and the previous year’s zero-budget attempt for PhilHealth shows a pattern of budgetary decisions that neglect the poor.
“Ang Supreme Court oral arguments na ito ay hindi lang tungkol sa mga technicalities ng budget law. This is about accountability. Isang malaking insulto sa ating mga kababayan na ang perang para sa kalusugan ay nagalaw, habang ang fuel relief ay kailangang ipaglaban pa nang husto,” Go firmly stated.
The Senator vowed to continue acting as a watchdog for the people’s funds, ensuring that any "returned" or "unprogrammed" money is diverted back to its original purpose: serving the "hopeless and the helpless."
“Pera ito ng taumbayan. Kung nagawa ninyong kunin ito mula sa PhilHealth, dapat ay mas mabilis ninyong mahanapan ng paraan na maibalik ito sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng subsidiya sa krudo at mas pinalakas na serbisyo medikal. No Filipino should be left behind just because of budget technicalities,” he concluded.
Senator Bong Go