The local governments of Bayambang, Urdaneta City and Malasiqui in Pangasinan have asked the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for a certified accounting of primary-care funds allocated for their constituents under the YAKAP program and the province-wide health system.
The three LGUs filed a joint petition at the PhilHealth head office in Pasig City through their respective officials and their spokesperson, Atty. Hue Jyro U. Go.
They want to determine how the P1,700 primary-care fund for each qualified beneficiary is being allocated and spent.
Under the arrangement cited in the petition, 20 percent, or about P340, is downloaded to the local governments while the remaining 80 percent, or about P1,360, is pooled at the provincial level.
“We just want to look into the numbers. What happened to the amount that we’re talking about, particularly the P1,360?” Go said.
The LGUs are seeking records showing the amount attributed to their beneficiaries, how much was placed in the pooled fund, how much was released or spent, the services funded and any remaining balance.
They are also asking for clarification on the handling and presentation of PhilHealth-funded services under the locally branded GUIConsulta program, including which services are covered by PhilHealth and which are provided or financed by the provincial government.
Go stressed that the petition is not an accusation of theft or misuse of funds but a request for transparency and an official reconciliation of the accounts.#