PhilHealth paid P5B in arrears

We would like to clarify an item in the story titled “Subsidies to state firms doubled to P14.16B.” (Inquirer, 8/8/11)

Five billion pesos of the P5.069 billion subsidy recently released to us by the national government (NG) covers arrears in the NG counterpart for the health insurance premiums of indigent families who are enrolled in our Sponsored Program (SP). The balance came from the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of several legislative sponsors representing their share in the annual premium of indigent families that they have enrolled, also under the SP. The counterpart funding arrangement between the NG and the local government units is provided for in the implementation of the SP. It is designed to bolster local and national government cooperation, especially for the benefit of the less privileged members of society—specifically, to give indigent Filipinos access to quality health care services.

We hope this corrects whatever misimpression the news item might have created, in the spirit of balanced reporting.

—DR. REY B. AQUINO,

president and CEO,

Philippine Health

Insurance Corp.,

709 Shaw Blvd., Pasig City