Executive Secretary Ralph Recto considers the ₱113-billion subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2026 as the largest support for universal healthcare in the country’s history.
According to Recto, the final amount comes from the original ₱53.13 billion proposal and an additional ₱60 billion returned by the Supreme Court after it was initially unused and transferred to the National Treasury.
“This administration promised to protect underprivileged Filipinos through better healthcare. With the ₱113 billion allocation, we are not just keeping that promise, we are exceeding it. This is the largest single-year investment for the poor under universal healthcare,” Recto said.
He explained that the ₱113-billion subsidy will directly support the healthcare needs of indigent families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sectors, allowing more Filipinos to benefit from expanded PhilHealth coverage without additional expenses.
Recto also assured that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will act promptly and transparently in releasing the funds, enabling PhilHealth to expand benefits and reduce out-of-pocket costs for Filipino families.
“A significant portion of the subsidy will be sourced from sin tax revenues, funds collected from alcohol and tobacco products which are channeled back into life-saving healthcare services,” he added.