PBBM asked to restore Philhealth subsidy and not be a Scrooge

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. to restore the subsidy for Philhealth and the budget cut for other social services. “President Marcos, Jr., do you hear the people’s demand? Restore the Philhealth subsidy and social services budget as a Christmas gift to workers and the people. Do not be a Scrooge by affirming the flawed 2025 budget,” stated Mario Andon, spokesperson of the Partido Manggagawa (PM) chapter in Panay.

Andon criticized President Marcos, Jr.’s recent pronouncement that no Philhealth benefits will be affected even if there is no subsidy in the 2025 budget. He explained that “President Marcos Jr. is missing the point. The demand of Philhealth members and beneficiaries is the significant improvement of benefits and services. In 2025, we hope to see a 50% increase in Philhealth coverage—as was discussed in the budget deliberations and promised by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.”

President Marcos, Jr. has postponed the scheduled signing today of the 2025 national budget. Aside from the zero subsidy for Philhealth, several departments like DSWD, DepEd and DOLE suffered reductions in the bicameral conference committee version of the budget.

PM was among the coalition of labor groups, health workers and medical advocates that held a protest last Wednesday and asked 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 to call on President Marcos, Jr. to veto the budget and reform the Philhealth.

PM is also calling on the President to axe Secretary 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 by solon 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. The group has also been demanding public laundromats and whole day childcare centers to ease the burdens of employed and unemployed women.