MANILA. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board of Directors has rejected a proposed P37.5-million budget for marketing and promotional materials to celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday.
The rejected proposal included various collateral items, such as jackets, umbrellas, shirts, and tote bags, intended for the anniversary events. The breakdown of the proposed expenses was as follows:
- Jackets: P13,650,000
- Umbrellas: P7,910,550
- Perforated mesh stickers: P7,300,000
- Anniversary shirts: P3,640,000
- Marketing shirts: P1,940,000
- Tote bags: P1,820,000
- Katsa bags: P750,000
- Button pins: P545,000
According to the DOH, which oversees PhilHealth, the decision to reject the proposal was made to “save government funds and ensure its proper allocation for the benefits of PhilHealth members.”
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, who serves as PhilHealth’s Board Chairman but cannot vote, emphasized that the Board’s priority is to ensure that funds are allocated to benefit the corporation’s members. “The PhilHealth Board of Directors reviews and decides on proposals coming from the PhilHealth Management, such as the Marketing and Promotional Expenses for the official events of the corporation. The Board will always prioritize the benefits of PhilHealth members,” Herbosa said in a statement.
The proposal was presented to the PhilHealth Board on December 16, where it was immediately vetoed. The Board is composed of various ex-officio members, including the Secretaries of Finance, Budget and Management, Social Welfare and Development, and Labor, as well as expert and sectoral members.
In a related development, PhilHealth recently denied claims that it had allocated nearly P138 million for its Christmas party. The health insurer clarified that the budget was actually for the nationwide commemoration of its 30th anniversary in 2025. PhilHealth also responded to health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon, who criticized the alleged excessive spending on social media. Leachon had claimed: “138 Million for Christmas party.”
PhilHealth countered these claims, emphasizing its adherence to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to scale down holiday celebrations, with only P2 million allocated for its year-end activities.
The decision to reject the anniversary collateral proposal reflects PhilHealth’s commitment to ensuring that resources are directed towards its primary mission—providing benefits to its members.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
