FILE

The Supreme Court recently issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) halting further transfer of unutilized PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury. According Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting, the TRO is a temporary measure, and the Court has set January 15 as the date for oral arguments on the petitions challenging the fund transfer.

Although the TRO restricts any further transfers, it doesn’t address whether previously transferred amounts will be returned to PhilHealth from the National Treasury. This leaves room for more discussion, with stakeholders and petitioners likely to bring their concerns to the January hearing. The TRO signals that the Court is taking these petitions seriously, ensuring that funds intended for public healthcare services remain accessible for their original purpose until a clear decision is reached.