10 facts about revenue leakage and PhilHealth fundsOne, the government is always in budget deficit; expenditures are always larger than revenues, with or without a crisis. Two, all sources of tax revenues were rising except excise tax: income and profits tax, sales tax and licenses, documentary stamp tax and other domestic taxes. Three, within excise tax collection, leakage happened only in tobacco tax. Within an hour, the staff returned with many brands of illicit tobacco, which Sen. Gatchalian displayed during the public hearing. Six, of the P60 billion in PhilHealth funds transferred to the national treasury in 2024, that money did not come from members’ contributions.

Source: Philippine Star December 25, 2025 00:37 UTC