Naglabas ng pahayag ang Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) hinggil sa nag-viral at pinag-uusapang breakdown ng ₱138 milyong pondo.
Sa kanilang opisyal na Facebook account, ibinahagi ng PhilHealth nitong Biyernes, Disyembre 13, 2024, ang kanilang pahayag at dinepensahan ang nasabing halaga na inilatag nila para sa isang selebrasyon.
"This is to clarify Dr. Tony Leachon's post on his social media account maliciously accusing PhilHealth of excessive budget for its Christmas party. It is unfortunate that he is misinformed,” anang PhilHealth.
Si Dr. Tony Leachon ay isang independent health reform advocate, na pinaniniwalaan umanong naglabas ng naturang breakdown ng pondo ng PhilHealth sa pamamagitan ng isang Facebook at X post noon ding Biyernes.
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Samantala, iginiit din ng PhilHealth ang mariing pagsunod daw nila sa utos ng Malacañang hinggil sa pagkakaroon ng simpleng selebrasyon ng Kapaskuhan matapos ang magkakasunod na pananalasa ng mga bagyo sa bansa.
"We wish to clarify that PhilHealth is fully complying with the directive of Malacañang to scale down agency celebrations for the Christmas season. The PhilHealth Management issues Management Advisory No. 2024-003 dated November 25, 2024 entitled ‘A Call for Scaled-Down Christmas Celebrations,’ which ordered all offices including regional offices to observe austerity measures in the conduct of such activities,” saad ng PhilHealth.
Kasunod nito, dumipensa rin ang PhilHealth na ang kumalat daw na breakdown sa social media ay pondo raw nila para sa kanilang ika-30 anibersaryo sa 2025 at hindi para sa Christmas party. Nilinaw din ng ahensya na hindi pa raw ito pinal.
"The breakdown of expenses posted by Dr. Leachon, which is not yet final, is intended for the 30th anniversary celebration of PhilHealth in 2025, a milestone year. Anchored on the theme "Panatag Kami Dito!", these activities are year-round and nationwide in scope and will be participated in by the employees, stakeholders, champions and advocates and more importantly by our members.”
Tinawag naman ng PhilHealth na "reasonable" ang nasabing halagang laan nila para sa pagdiriwang daw ng ika-30 anibersaryo, na nakaayon daw ang limitasyon ng nasabing pondo sa mandato ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng RA 9184.
"The approved activities are reasonable, budgeted following existing limits set by the Government, and will be procured under RA 918. These activities aim to amount a meaningful observance of this milestone year, and will be leveraged to further engaged our members and stakeholders to drum up interest and awareness on the many reforms that the Corporation is pursuing especially on the enhancement of the benefit as envisioned in the Universal Health Care Law,” saad ng PhilHealth.
Nanindigan din ang naturang ahensya na sila raw ay nananatiling transparent hinggil sa paghawak daw nila ng pondo ng kanilang mga miyembro: “PhilHealth assures the public that it is committed to transparency and prudence in the stewardship of the member's fund.”
