The national government has provided about P27-billion subsidy to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) this month, the Bureau of the Treasury announced over the weekend.

“Around P27 billion,” National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon told reporters via Viber when asked if the national government has already extended subsidy to the state-owned insurance firm.

De Leon added the said subsidy was released to the PhilHealth this month, but she did not elaborate.

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.

Meanwhile, latest Treasury data showed that subsidies provided by the national government to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCC) surged in April.

Twenty-two GOCCs secured P34.41 billion assistance during the month, up 573.38 percent from P5.11 billion during the same month a year ago.

The Social Security System accounted for the bulk of subsidies given in the month with P25.50 billion.

The National Irrigation Administration came in second with P4.74 billion and National Food Authority at third with P2.82 billion.

Also receiving assistance in April were the Light Rail Transit Authority, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Credit Information Corp., Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp., 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., Southern Philippines Development Authority, and Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority.

Year-to-date, government subsidies expanded by 389.72 percent to P70.57 billion from the year-ago figure.

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

State spending in April accelerated by 108.14 percent to P461.7 billion from P221.8 billion a year ago, boosting the year-to-date figure by 31.12 percent to P1.310 trillion.

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

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