The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released roughly ₱10.377 billion to fund the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program across hospitals managed by the Department of Health (DOH) and six pilot local government unit (LGU) medical centers.
In a statement released Tuesday, the budget department explained that the newly approved funds are aimed at driving the implementation of the Universal Health Care law and mitigating healthcare expenses for local families.
“Through the ₱10.377-billion approved funding, the government aims to address one of the most immediate concerns confronting Filipino families during illness — the financial burden of hospitalization — while strengthening access to affordable and quality public health services nationwide,” the DBM said.
A breakdown of the allocation shows that ₱9.377 billion will be used for the rollout of the ZBB scheme in DOH-operated institutions across the country.
Of that sum, ₱3.342 billion will go directly to DOH facilities in the National Capital Region, such as Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and Tondo Medical Center.
The package also covers specialized facilities, including the National Center for Mental Health, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
The remaining ₱6.035 billion is designated for regional DOH hospitals and public medical facilities outside Metro Manila to expand healthcare coverage nationwide.
In an independent fund release, the DBM allocated ₱1 billion to six pilot provincial LGU hospitals situated in Benguet, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Aklan, and Sarangani.
The agency emphasized that extending coverage to provincial facilities helps decentralize state healthcare assistance, offering relief directly to provincial patients in their home regions.
Financing for the initiative is sourced from the DOH budget under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The ZBB Program supports the national government’s Universal Health Care goal by covering standard healthcare costs for eligible admitted patients in accredited public facilities, minimizing out-of-pocket expenses.
The latest disbursement follows an earlier ₱1.855 billion fund released to the Philippine General Hospital, which contained ₱800 million specifically designated for ZBB execution.
Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon noted that the funding allocation turns government commitments into direct relief for citizens.
“No Filipino should have to choose between getting the medical care they need and protecting their family from a hospital bill they cannot afford. This ₱10.377-billion release is about making sure that when our people get sick, government is there to help carry the burden,” De Leon said.
“Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s leadership, we are putting public funds where they can make a real difference in people’s lives,” he added.