MANILA — Former senator Franklin Drilon on Tuesday urged the Marcos government to review the leadership of state insurer PhilHealth and its corporate operating budget.

PhilHealth recently made headlines for receiving zero subsidy in the proposed 2025 national spending bill because some lawmakers argued that it should first utilize its reserve funds. The agency said that the move would not derail its services. 

PhilHealth assures continued services despite loss of 2025 government subsidy

But the health insurer also faced public criticism on its P138-million proposed budget for its 30th-anniversary celebration next year.

It defended the proposal in a statement by saying it was not yet final and that the approved activities for the celebration were "reasonable" and "budgeted following existing limits set by the government."

Drilon, a former Senate president, told ANC that PhilHealth's multi-million peso budget proposal for the agency's anniversary celebration was "unconscionable, indecent, and amoral."

He urged Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to examine PhilHealth's spending plan and "disallow this kind of budget."

"Maybe it is about time for the president to review and change the leadership in PhilHealth," he added.

PhillHealth said in its statement that the activities in its proposed 30th-anniversary celebrations would run for a year nationwide and would also be participated by its members.

Drilon said in the interview that although the zero-subsidy allocation would not cause PhilHealth's collapse, the government still needed to improve the benefits of PhilHealth members.

Health advocates including former government COVID adviser Tony Leachon are campaigning against the loss of government subsidy for PhilHealth in next year's national budget, warning that the insurer was now "insolvent." 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insisted Monday that PhilHealth had enough funds, and the proposed zero government subsidy for the agency would not affect its members.