Labor leaders and activists from the Nagkaisa labor coalition held a forum and rally Tuesday to protest the zero subsidy allocation for PhilHealth in the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act.
“In the 2025 national budget, there is zero subsidy for PhilHealth but full subsidy for trapos in the form of AKAP, AICS, TUPAD, and confidential funds,” said Judy Miranda, secretary general of Partido Manggagawa (PM).
The group is demanding a three-point action plan: veto the bicameral version of the General Appropriations Act, restore the subsidy for PhilHealth, and reform the system through the resignation of Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and a revamp of the PhilHealth board.
PM also called for the removal of confidential funds not only for Vice President Sara Duterte’s Office of the Vice President (OVP) but for all other agencies, including the Office of the President (OP).
The labor coalition’s activities Tuesday serve as a buildup for a larger rally scheduled on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Nagkaisa will launch a press conference Wednesday to reiterate its demands.
Miranda criticized the Congressional bicameral conference committee for excluding PhilHealth subsidies while retaining confidential funds.
“It is the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte and all other officials that must be taken out, not support for the health insurance of workers and the people,” Miranda said.
“Zero subsidy for PhilHealth, no! Zero budget for confidential funds, yes!” she added.
The group also held Secretary Herbosa partly responsible for the PhilHealth subsidy exclusion.
PM called for Herbosa’s resignation, citing his failure to deliver on commitments to improve PhilHealth benefits for its members, particularly workers.
“Secretary Herbosa should step down since he cannot do his job and fulfill his promises,” Miranda said.
She pointed out that Herbosa had committed to a 50% across-the-board increase in PhilHealth benefits, which has yet to materialize.
“PhilHealth has excess funds because it is scrimping on benefits. Herbosa, alis dyan!” Miranda emphasized.
The demand for Herbosa’s resignation aligns with PM’s advocacy for quality public services.
Earlier, PM joined the Nagkaisa labor coalition as an intervenor in a Supreme Court case opposing the transfer of P90 billion in PhilHealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury.
The group also continues to push for public laundromats and all-day childcare centers to ease the burdens of both employed and unemployed women.
