MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Filipinos on Thursday that the reduction in government subsidies to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will not compromise the quality of services provided to its members.
Speaking in response to House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s announcement that lawmakers are considering a year-long suspension of PhilHealth premium payments to evaluate the agency’s financial stability, Marcos guaranteed uninterrupted services and insurance claims processing.
“My guarantee is simple: whether there is a subsidy, no subsidy, or any contribution, PhilHealth’s services will not be reduced, and its payment for insurance claims will not be affected,” Marcos said.
The President added that PhilHealth benefits are even expected to improve and expand. “I assure everyone—whether seniors, the poor, or the middle class—no one will experience a reduction in services, not even a single peso’s worth.”
Marcos and lawmakers supporting the subsidy cut highlighted that PhilHealth has approximately ₱500 billion in reserve funds, which can sustain its operations and meet members’ needs.