The national government’s subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) posted a growth of nearly 50 percent in 2019, with a significant amount intended for the health premiums of senior citizens and indigent patients.
According to data posted by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in its website, subsidies to state firms amounted to P201.52 billion in January to December 2019, 47.47 percent higher than the P136.65 billion disbursed in the same period last year.
Bulk of the amount went to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) with P72.7 billion.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was the second largest recipient with P36.63 billion.
This was followed by the Land Bank of the Philippines with P30.49 billion, National Housing Authority (NHA) with P13.86 billion, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) with P10.8 billion.
In December alone, state support to GOCCs totaled to P25.4 billion.
This amount is significantly higher versus the P2.18 billion recorded in the same month in 2018.
BCDA is the top recipient with P10.15 billion, followed by PhilHealth with P7.16 billion.
NHA received P3.67 billion, while NIA was in the fourth spot with P1.83 billion. The National Electrification Administration completed the top five for the month with P840 million.
