The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) oral arguments were rescheduled to February 4, 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Monday.

The hearing concerns the petitions filed to block the transfer of the P89.9 billion excess funds to the national treasury. Earlier this year, some government officials proposed to reallocate PhilHealth’s unspent funds to support social development, agriculture, education, and infrastructure.

However, petitioners continued to put a stop to its transfer to the national treasury. According to petitioners, these funds are considered special funds, as they are collected solely for the public’s health insurance. Adding that any idle money left should be classified as government savings.

In August, Sen. Risa Hontiveros advised PhilHealth to halt the funds transfer, stating that there was no reason for it. Hontiveros stressed how the healthcare sector is currently in need of more services. Thus, the remaining money can be utilized for the benefit of Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Akbayan Party-list first nominee and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno also urged the government to use the unspent money to bolster the services for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and indigent Filipinos. These funds should be used to improve the sector’s coverage for such communities instead of its reallocation.

Consequently, the SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against PhilHealth in October. The Court’s decision came after three petitions were filed to challenge the return of the excess funds from government-owned and controlled corporations to the national treasury.

Some of PhilHealth’s funds were recently taken away through the Special Provisions of the General Appropriations Act of 2024, which allows funds from other sectors to be transferred to other government agencies like social services and infrastructure.