SEN. Loren Legarda has urged senators to monitor the implementation of health programs by the Department of Health (DOH) amid its “continued failure” to remit sin tax revenues. She also appealed to the Senate to ensure that “approved appropriations translate into measurable outcomes and full value for public investment.” Legarda on Monday voted for the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the reconciled P6.793 trillion general appropriations bill, subject to certain reservations. “My reservations arise from the national government’s continued failure to remit PhilHealth’s actual legally mandated sin tax revenues from 2023 onward and statutory shares from PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office) and Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) since 2019,” she said. Legarda said this matter undermined the Universal Health Care Act and delayed the transition to an institutionally guaranteed zero out-of-pocket care framework in public health facilities. “I further emphasize that our shared responsibility does not end with the enactment of the 2026 GAA,” she said during Monday’s plenary session. She clarified that despite her reservations, she stood by the bicam report seeking to strengthen human capital through sustained investments in health, education, agriculture, and other sectors that directly affect productivity and quality of life. “This signing is not just a formality; rather, it is a commitment that every peso allocated has a clear purpose and must deliver real, measurable, and concrete benefits to every Filipino family,” Legarda said.