Former Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon described PhilHealth’s multi-million peso budget for the celebration of its 30th anniversary as “unconscionable, indecent, and amoral.”
PhilHealth allotted nearly P138 million for its anniversary celebration next year. Of the amount, P18.3 million will be spent for gala nights, P32.7 million for a sports fest, P13 million for jackets and P7.9 million for umbrella tokens and giveaways, among others.
Drilon urged Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to “disallow this kind of budget.”
“Maybe it is about time for the President to review and change the leadership in PhilHealth,” he added.
In a statement, PhilHealth explained that the proposed budget was for its whole year, nationwide celebration of its anniversary.
The state health insurer also said that its spending proposal follows government guidelines and that the activities planned for 2025 will benefit staff, stakeholders “and more importantly our members.”IMT
