Group lambasts PBBM for not restoring Philhealth subsidy

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) lambasted President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. for not restoring the subsidy for Philhealth and funds for social services in the national budget that he signed today.

“President Marcos, Jr. is being disingenuous in his veto of a few line items as AKAP remains embedded in the national budget. Further, he is being dishonest in saying that Philhealth benefits will not be affected by lack of subsidy. Philhealth members and beneficiaries are demanding significant improvement of benefits—a 50% increase in coverage as was discussed in the budget deliberations & promised by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa,” stated Mario Andon, spokesperson of the Partido Manggagawa (PM) chapter in Panay.

PM was among the coalition of labor groups, health workers and medical advocates that held a big protest to ask for the restoration of the Philhealth subsidy in the 2025 national budget. Members of the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan marched to Mendiola in Manila last December 18 to call on President Marcos, Jr. to veto the budget and reform the Philhealth. Last December 26, members of PM and Sentro also held a rally at the Philhealth office in Cebu City.

PM reiterated its demand for the resignation of Herbosa and the Philhealth board for their failure to make good on their promises as well as for their inefficiency that has become an alibi for the zero subsidy.

PM earlier joined the Nagkaisa labor coalition in filing as intervenor in the Supreme Court case to oppose the transfer of P90 billion of Philhealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury. Moreover, the group has been demanding public laundromats and whole day childcare centers to ease the burdens of employed and unemployed women.