The national government’s subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) posted a double-digit growth as of end-November, 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 in its website, subsidies to state firms amounted to P170.55 billion in the first 11 months of 2019, 26.83 percent higher than the P134.47 billion disbursed in the same period the prior year.
Bulk of the amount went to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) at P65.54 billion.
The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) was the second largest recipient with P34.81 billion.
This was followed by the Land Bank of the Philippines with P30.49 billion, National Housing Authority (NHA) with P10.18 billion, and National Food Authority with P7 billion.
In November alone, state support to GOCCs totaled to P11.82 billion.
This amount is 46.12 percent up from the P8.09 billion recorded in the same month in 2018.
PhilHealth is the top recipient with P3.98 billion, followed by NIA with P2.76 billion.
NHA received P1.9 billion, while the Local Water Utilities Administration was in the fourth spot with P909 million. The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. completed the top five for the month with P772 million.
