Upon the initiative of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, the House Committee on Appropriations met recently to examine the budgetary performance of the Department of Health (DOH) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, to ensure that it complies with requirements and utilize public funds effectively as mandated by the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the 1987 Constitution.
Senior committee vice-chairperson and Marikina City Representative Stella Luz Quimbo, in her preliminary remarks, said the Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2022 audit found several issues within the DOH, including unutilized funds, mishandled inventories, and inefficiencies in vaccine distribution and health program implementation.
DOH Undersecretary Achilles Gerard Bravo said that in the 2023 GAA, the agency has a total allotment of P229.7 billion, with 2022 continuing appropriations (CONAP) of P25.22 billion. Out of this budget, there is an unobligated allotment of P20.88 billion, an obligation rate of 92 percent, and a disbursement rate of 80 percent.
As of March 31, 2024, DOH’s total allotment is P256.01 billion. Out of that amount, P58.64 billion or 23 percent had been obligated and P31.28 billion or 53 percent had been paid or disbursed.
Lawmakers asked about the DOH’s readiness to manage the new COVID FLiRT variant, with Quimbo lamenting reports of no budget for vaccines.
“Kahit na walang line item na specific, ay pwede po mag-realign, pwedeng gumamit ng QRF.”
“Pakilinaw lang po, napakaraming pondo. At kahit na walang line item na specific, ay pwede po mag-realign, pwedeng gumamit ng QRF (quick response fund) at other items, pwede rin po kung kinakailangan mag-request sa DBM,” the veteran legislator said.
Bravo assured the panel that unutilized budgets would be allocated for new COVID vaccines and other health response programs.
OIC Assistant Secretary Dr. Albert Edralin Domingo also dismissed claims of insufficient funding and confirmed DOH’s preparedness to address any escalation of the new variant.
Atty. Eli Santos, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Chief Operating Officer (COO), reported their notable improvements in their available benefit packages to be more responsive to the healthcare needs of the members.
“The ‘No Balance Billing’ policy under PhilHealth often fails due to lack of bed capacity or medicines.”
AGRI Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee expressed concern about the ineffective implementation of the “No Balance Billing” policy under PhilHealth, citing that it often fails due to lack of bed capacity or medicines.
Lee pressed the DOH on plans to increase PhilHealth ward allocations, referencing Administrative Order 2007-0041, which mandates a 10% allocation in private hospitals.
Both Bravo and Domingo acknowledged low fund utilization in hospitals, and assured that the DOH aims to enhance PhilHealth coverage for indigent patients.
Quimbo inquired about the 852,779 claims for COVID-19 testing amounting to P1.97 billion in 2023 even though the pandemic no longer exists. The panel also requested the DOH and PhilHealth to provide them the documents and data related to these testing kits.
