Subsidies provided by the national government to state-owned firms rose significantly in June, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed, with the bulk extended to the controversial Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Twenty-six government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) got a total of P69.16 billion assistance during the month, up 882.40 percent from only P7.04 billion in June 2019.

PhilHealth secured P26.17 billion last month. PhilHealth is responsible for administering the country’s health insurance program, particularly the Universal Health Care program that aims to provide Filipino families equitable access to quality and affordable health care services.

Under the Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” the state-run firm is also tasked to shoulder all medical expenses of public and private health workers in case of exposure to coronavirus disease 2019, or any work-related injury or disease during the duration of the pandemic.

The state-run health insurance firm is currently in hot water after three official resigned over alleged corruption. President Rodrigo Duterte already ordered an investigation.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority came in second in subsidies received with P31.25 billion and the National Housing Authority was at third with P7.46 billion.

Also receiving assistance in June were the Light Rail Transit Authority, Philippine National Railways, National Irrigation Administration, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Development Academy of the Philippines, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Dairy Authority, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Center for Economic Development, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, People’s Television Network Inc., Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Southern Philippines Development Authority, and Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority.

Year-to-date, government subsidies soared by 534.99 percent to P169.53 billion from the year-ago figure.

In 2019, the government gave away a record P201.52 billion in subsidies.

Subsidies are part of the national government’s disbursement program.

State spending in June surged by 26.65 percent to P349.2 billion from P275.7 billion a year ago, boosting the year-to-date figure by 26.63 percent to P2.01 trillion.

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