The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced on Tuesday that it has reduced its budget for holiday celebrations in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to scale down festivities.
PhilHealth Senior Vice President Dr. Israel Francis Pargas said the agency will hold its year-end activity on December 18, with a budget of less than P2 million allocated primarily for food. Over 1,000 employees are expected to attend the gathering.
“We complied with Malacañang’s instruction to scale down any Christmas party or year-end event,” Pargas said in a GMA News report.
The President had earlier urged government agencies to simplify celebrations and redirect any savings to communities affected by recent tropical cyclones.
PhilHealth also clarified that the rumored P138 million budget was a proposed allocation for its year-round nationwide 30th-anniversary celebration in 2025, not just for a single event. Pargas emphasized that the proposal remains unapproved.
