The Health Workers Partylist opposed the transfer of P89 billion in “unused” funds from the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to the Bureau of Treasury as the PhilHealth contributions came from the Filipinos.
“Hindi tayo pabor roon pagbalik ng ating [unused] Philhealth fund na P89 million dahil pondo, pera ito ng taumbayan. Dapat nga magkaroon talaga ng libre serbisyo pangkalusugan at dapat ibigay ito ng libre sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” midwife and Alliance of Health Workers National President Robert Mendoza said after the HWP filed for a certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) on Thursday, October 3, for the 2025 midterm elections.
In March, the Department of Finance released a circular directing government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), including PhilHealth, to transfer their surplus funds to the Treasury. This action would enable the government to finance unprogrammed appropriations.
Mendoza stated that this kind of transfer is puzzling, considering that the Department of Health (DOH) acknowledges that seven out of ten Filipinos pass away without ever visiting a physician.
“Alam natin na kahit sinasabi nila na hindi naman ito nanggaling doon sa contribution, pero nakita [naman] natin [na] annually, mayroong budget na inilalaan ang ating gobyerno sa PhilHealth. Why not na lang na idagdag na lang ito doon sa assistance for indigent patients?” Mendoza added.
HWP then vowed to fight for “free healthcare for all” once it secured its slot in Congress. The partylist’s first three nominees are Mendoza, nurse Maristella Abenojar, and Dr. Benigno Santi II.
The HWP is mainly composed of doctors, nurses, nurse attendants, medical technologists, midwives, dentists, and other healthcare providers. Mainly focusing on issues concerning the livelihood and welfare of health workers, people’s health, and good governance, the partylist represents the collective aspiration in advocating health for the people by the people. (TCSP)
