CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — A lawmaker says the House of Representatives will closely monitor the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s pledge. (PhilHealth) to expand coverage and increase member benefits.

Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Arnan Panaligan said he informed PhilHealth of the surveillance plan during a House Blue Ribbon Committee briefing on Wednesday, December 18.

In his interpellation during the briefing, which he posted on his social media page, Panaligan said the committee and other House committees, particularly the Appropriations Committee, would monitor the agency’s promise to increase agency coverage and other benefits by 50 percent. next year.

“We will monitor your promise,” Panaligan said. “We will have an oversight hearing on this promise that you will increase coverage so that patients are not dependent on MAID (Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients). I think it is not necessary given the amount that The agency has if only you increase your coverage.

PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. responded that they strongly agreed that Congress should monitor their promise and strongly encouraged lawmakers to do so.

Ledesma said the agency’s board has already approved the additional 50 percent increase, bringing the adjustment for the year to 80 percent from the previous year.

Panaligan also clarified that the lack of subsidy imposed by the bicameral committee did not mean the agency had a zero budget, because the agency still had plenty of funds, even without the subsidy from national coffers.

Panaligan also pointed out that although financial management skills were needed to manage PhilHealth since they were allowed to invest part of their funds to grow, they expect a sense of compassion from PhilHealth officials.

“We expect from them a sense of compassion towards the people, especially towards the poor, because we are talking about healthcare here, and if there is one problem that Filipinos face, it is their healthcare expenses, next to those of food,” Panaligan said.

“That is why we expect PhilHealth to address this concern,” the Mindoro lawmaker added.

In his message, Panaligan said that during the briefing, it was revealed that PhilHealth has an existing fund of P490 billion in investment funds, P280 billion in reserve funds and P150 billion in excess funds.

“This shows that PhilHealth is like an investment bank that, instead of being social health insurance, has the mission of paying or assuming the expenses of its hospitalized members,” Panaligan explained.

“During the meeting, it became apparent that a large portion of the agency’s funds are invested in an investment portfolio to earn interest instead of using them for member hospitalization,” Panaligan said in his message.

He also lamented Ledesma’s statement asking its members to be patient as the agency was still preparing the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) of the increase in member benefits and coverage .

“We cannot just tell people who cannot pay the hospital or discharge from the hospital due to lack or lack of money to pay the bills, that is why we ask PhilHealth to expedite the implementation of the increase and broader benefits for members,” Panaligan added in his message.