DAVAO City Third District Representative Isidro T. Ungab demanded complete transparency on the controversial deletion of the P74 billion allocation for PhilHealth in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
In a statement he posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Ungab said that the Filipino people deserve to know who was behind the removal of the P74 billion, which had been legally earmarked for PhilHealth through the Sin Tax Law.
He emphasized that this issue is not merely about budget realignment but a reflection of the systematic dismantling of health funds that should have benefited the Filipino people.
"I stand with those demanding that transparency regarding the deletion of the PhilHealth budget must be addressed before any discussions on the 2026 budget proceed. We cannot move forward while this cloud of irregularity hangs over the budget process," his statement read.
The congressman warned that failing to address the issue would have serious consequences for democratic governance, adding that if the deletion is allowed without accountability, it sends a message to the Filipino people that the law, healthcare, and public trust "mean nothing" — a message he strongly opposes.
Ungab stressed that the government must not proceed with future budgets while the P74 billion meant for healthcare remains unaccounted for. He urged that the members of the bicameral conference committee who participated in the deletion be identified.
He added that those responsible for the deletion must explain to the Filipino people why they diverted funds from healthcare, why they violated the Sin Tax Law, and whether they had the authority to override legally mandated allocations.
"The Filipino people deserve answers," he said.
Ungab also endorsed the legal analysis of Senator Panfilo Lacson, citing its correctness in stating that a general law cannot amend a special law. He affirmed that the Sin Tax Law specifically earmarked revenues for health programs, and any attempt to divert those funds through the GAA is a clear violation of fundamental legal principles.
In his privilege speech, Ungab raised concerns over the bicameral conference committee's amendments to the automatic appropriations in the 2025 national budget.
He said this is the first time he has seen the bicameral panel alter items under automatic appropriations — a move he described as unprecedented and constitutionally questionable.
Earlier this year, Ungab had already expressed concern over discrepancies in the Bicameral Conference Committee report, citing blank sections in the document. He noted that parts of the report, particularly those involving the Department of Agriculture and unprogrammed appropriations, were missing crucial figures, some billions of pesos.
Ungab brings extensive experience in fiscal legislation, having chaired the House Committee on Appropriations during the 16th and 18th Congresses, as well as the Committee on Ways and Means during the 15th Congress. RGP