By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter
THE Supreme Court docket’s non permanent restraining order (TRO) on the switch of P29.9 billion from the Philippine Well being Insurance coverage Corp. (PhilHealth) to the Bureau of the Treasury may have an effect on authorities initiatives counting on unprogrammed funds, an economist stated.
“This could even have an effect on infrastructure as some funds will be diverted from programmed initiatives to unprogrammed however urgent initiatives,” Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr., an economics professor on the Ateneo de Manila, instructed BusinessWorld by way of Messenger chat.
He added that the TRO may affect future transfers of reserves held by government-owned and -controlled firms (GOCCs) to the Treasury.
Mr. Lanzona likened the PhilHealth fund transfers to former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III’s Improvement Acceleration Program, which the excessive court docket dominated in opposition to.
“All alongside there was already a precedent that ought to forestall such transfers,” he stated.
In July, the Division of Finance stated remittances from PhilHealth and different GOCCs to the Treasury facilitated the Division of Price range and Administration’s launch of P27.5 billion to settle claims by frontliners eligible for COVID pandemic allowances.
A provision within the 2024 Normal Appropriations Act allowed the DoF to subject Round No. 003-2024, authorizing PhilHealth and the Philippine Deposit Insurance coverage Corp. to switch P89.9 billion and P110 billion, respectively.
These have been meant to fund unprogrammed appropriations value P203.1 billion in well being, infrastructure, and social providers.
Supreme Court docket Spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting stated on Tuesday that the TRO on the final tranche of the PhilHealth fund switch, value P29.9 billion and due subsequent month, is efficient instantly.
The Court docket consolidated the petitions filed by 1SAMBAYAN Coalition, a bunch led by Senator Aquilino Martin D. Pimentel III, and one other group led by Bayan Muna Chairman Neri J. Colmenares.
The three petitions have been filed to cease the switch of P89.9 billion from PhilHealth to the Treasury.
The TRO was issued after P60 billion in PhilHealth funds had been transferred to the Treasury in three tranches starting Could.
Ms. Ting stated the court docket may nonetheless contemplate a plea for a establishment ante order, which may permit the return of the P60 billion to PhilHealth.
Former Social gathering-list Rep. Renato B. Magtubo stated the TRO “has no actual impact” on the initiatives because of be funded by unprogrammed allocations.
These initiatives “will solely be realized if there are further funds collected by the Nationwide Authorities,” he instructed BusinessWorld by way of Viber.
Such venture funding is contingent on the supply of funds even when they have been granted appropriations,” he stated.
