President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday announced that the P60 billion earlier transferred from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national government will be returned to expand coverage.
Speaking during an inspection of the Zero Balance Billing program at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila, the President said the restored funds, sourced from government savings, primarily from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), will be used to strengthen and widen PhilHealth services.
“Even if we have proven that PhilHealth services will not be reduced, people are still worried when the P60 billion was moved to the national government. Now, I am happy to announce that we will return it to PhilHealth to further expand its services,” Mr. Marcos said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, he lauded Fabella Medical Center for its recognized expertise in caring for premature and at-risk infants, while commending health workers nationwide for their dedication despite long hours and limited rest.
“You save thousands, millions of lives. You continue to give hope to our people, and that is the most important thing,” Marcos said, adding that his own battle with COVID-19 serves as a reminder of the crucial role of frontliners.
The President also emphasized that healthcare remains one of the most vital government services, underscoring efforts to reinforce PhilHealth and ensure Filipinos feel the government’s support in times of medical need.
“We have to make people realize that when they get sick, there is a hospital they can go to and the government will be there to help them,” Marcos concluded.
