The Philippine government has set the 2026 national budget at Php 6.793 trillion, with health receiving increased funding, citing the growing public needs. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said priority allocations to these sectors are critical to long-term national growth.

Under the proposed budget, funding for the health sector was raised to Php 447.6 billion. This includes a Php 129.78-billion allocation for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (Philhealth), a tax-exempt government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

Gatchalian also said additional funding was provided for the Zero Balance Billing program in Department of Health hospitals, as well as for specialty hospitals.

The Senate has approved the 2026 national budget, clearing it for transmittal to Malacañang for the signature of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Source: PNA

In a statement, the advocates said the proposal adopts the World Health Organization’s (WHO) SAFER technical package, an evidence-based framework to reduce alcohol-related injuries, violence, and health risks. Unlike existing local measures such as sales bans or curfews, the ordinance seeks wider regulation covering alcohol availability, age of access, consumption, and marketing.

ImagineLaw project manager Reina Fabregas said the measure responds to the continued occurrence of alcohol-related harm in the Philippines and shows the city’s focus on public health and safety.

Alcohol use has been linked to preventable injuries and disease nationwide. A 2022 study found that intoxication increases the risk of driver injury and death, while an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2024 report identified alcohol as the country’s third leading risk factor for disease burden.

Philippine Heart Association (PHA) representative Rodney Jimenez said lowering alcohol consumption at the community level could help reduce cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) National Institutes of Health researcher Katherine Ann Reyes said the proposal shows how local governance can encourage healthier lifestyles by regulating both alcohol availability and marketing.

The proposed ordinance also covers tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, and includes penalties and funding for enforcement. Advocates said they are ready to support Quezon City as the measure moves toward passage and implementation.

Source: PNA

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

This programming builds on the US$63 million in assistance announced during President Marcos’s July official visit to Washington, which was the first announcement of new assistance for any country following President Trump’s review and realignment of foreign assistance. “This announcement is yet another demonstration of the comprehensive bond between the US and the Philippines. It also demonstrates the efficient, time-limited, and narrowly targeted approach of this new era of America First foreign assistance, “the statement added.

Source: US Department of State 

Despite this improvement, dengue cases from January to mid-February 2025 reached 43,732, a 56% increase from the same period last year. However, the case fatality ratio dropped to 0.38% from 0.42%, indicating effective diagnosis and treatment.

Related: Warning Signs of Dengue that Demand Emergency Attention 

More than half of the cases are concentrated in CALABARZON (9,113), the National Capital Region (7,551), and Central Luzon (7,362), with 17 local government units identified as hotspots. The DOH is working closely with local authorities, providing test kits, reactivating Dengue fast lanes in hospitals, and supporting intensified vector control efforts.

Children aged 5 to 14 are the most affected, prompting health officials to urge parents to use protective measures such as mosquito repellents, long clothing, and nets. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa reminded the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and seek early consultation, noting that PhilHealth covers dengue-related expenses.

Since 2020, the DBM has allocated PHP 121.325 billion to the DOH for healthcare and non-healthcare workers, covering Special Risk Allowance, Health Emergency Allowance, COVID-19 compensation, and other benefits.

Meanwhile, during Senate hearings in April and May 2024, the DOH requested an additional PHP 27.453 billion to fully cover PHEBA arrears. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release of this amount through a Special Allotment Release Order on July 5, 2024.

The Super Health Center in Bacoor City will serve as a central hub for a diverse range of healthcare services, including database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, and diagnostic services encompassing X-rays and ultrasounds. It will also feature a well-equipped pharmacy and an ambulatory surgical unit. The center will house specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation facilities, and telemedicine. Notably, these centers will also serve as satellite vaccination sites, ensuring that Filipinos living in remote areas have access to crucial immunization services, thereby promising improved healthcare access.

Meanwhile, in the CALABARZON region, which encompasses Cavite, the country established its first super health center back in 2021. The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Ibaan local government unit (LGU) and various healthcare stakeholders, including private groups and industries, transformed the Ibaan Rural Health Unit into a comprehensive polyclinic or super health center. This facility sets a higher standard of care than regular rural health centers, providing essential healthcare services at the local level. It was inaugurated on November 17 in Barangay Talaibon, Ibaan, Batangas.

The super health center offers a wide range of services, including database management, outpatient care, tuberculosis (TB) directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS), birthing services, isolation units, diagnostic services (including X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy services, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment are also available. Additionally, it will collaborate with the UP-PGH Department of Surgery and the Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital to provide more healthcare services.

Funding for the facility’s operations will come from the Annual Municipal Health Budget, Philhealth Capitation Fund, Income from E-konsulta, Pharmacy, and Laboratory services. The regional office will provide the initial investment capital funds, healthcare personnel, medicines, medical supplies, and other health commodities.

More SHCs are expected to emerge in various parts of the country as the national government aims to construct more than 600 SHCs nationwide.

The cost of preventing or managing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disease, among others, adds to the daily struggles of Filipinos. In the same breath, the country’s deteriorating air quality adds to the people’s health burdens. According to reports, lead levels in the country’s capital, Metro Manila, are more than three times the World Health Organization’s established safe limit. Motor vehicles, factories, open burning, industries using coal and other non-renewable energies, and others are all sources of air pollution in the country.

According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) 2023 Report, air pollution is the third leading cause of death and disability due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The health effects of air pollution have a wide range of economic consequences, including “social costs, welfare costs, and welfare loss”.

The CREA report also stated that air pollution is responsible for 66,230 deaths in the Philippines in 2019, with 64,920 deaths being adults and 1,310 deaths being children, which is significantly higher than previous estimates. The corresponding economic cost of air pollution is estimated to be Php 2.32 trillion (approximately US$ 44.8 billion) in 2019, or 11.9% of the country’s GDP in 2019. The majority of the estimated economic cost of PHP 2.2 trillion (US$ 42.8 billion) is accounted for by premature deaths.

Air pollution has a negative impact on both economic productivity and welfare costs because it has been shown to increase the risk of death and disability from cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other causes.

Working days lost due to illness or caring for a sick child or dependents have a direct impact on productivity and earning potential. School absences have an impact on children’s “future economic productivity and income”, the CREA report said, adding that such consequences could be greatly reduced in the Philippines with cleaner air quality, demonstrating the importance of any reduction in air pollution.

Among other things, the country must ensure that it meets the World Health Organization’s global air quality guideline, which recommends a maximum level of 5 g/m3 for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for long-term exposure to protect health. According to CREA, doing so could “reduce annual premature deaths by 26%, emergency room visits related to asthma by 63%, and sick days by 35%”.

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In a statement on World Population Day on Wednesday, Cayetano said this year’s theme of “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services” emphasizes the need for an RH law to help bring down the number of maternal deaths.

“On World Population Day, let’s prioritize the plight and burden of Filipino mothers,” she said.

“They are the ones who risk their life to bear new life, carry the primary burden of ensuring the health, education and welfare of their children, and balance the family’s meager resources to survive from day-to-day.”

Cayetano said the situation of Filipino mothers has gone from bad to worse over the past few years as indicated in the rise of maternal deaths.

“This should be reason compelling enough for any fair-minded legislator to support the enactment of the RH bill, which would allow mothers universal access to reproductive health services of the government,” she said.

“As more and more of our colleagues are enlightened on the importance and urgency of implementing a national reproductive health policy, we expect the RH bill to finally hurdle the obstacles and see passage soon after Congress reopens its session.”

Cayetano said the RH bill would prevent more maternal deaths by expanding access to the following services: natural and artificial family planning services to allow mothers to plan and space their pregnancies; prenatal care to ensure the mother’s health and nutrition, and allow for early detection of complications; safe and modern birthing facilities manned by health professionals to ensure safe deliveries; and postpartum services to monitor and address complications after delivery.

“Based on the FHS, prevalence in the use of modern contraceptives is much lower for married women belonging to poor households compared to those belonging to non-poor households,” she said.

Cayetano said a disparity exists in the use of contraceptives between married women with little or no education and those with higher levels of education.

“What these figures prove is that clearly, there’s a very huge unmet need for reproductive health services for women in general, but more so, for those who come from the poorest families and those who are less educated,” she said.

“There clearly is an urgent material need for an RH Law, but its hard-line critics refuse to see the reality. They refuse to lift a finger to help alleviate the condition of Filipino mothers despite the alarming rise in maternal deaths. It’s high time we end this vicious cycle where mothers are callously denied access to reproductive health services, which is their right and need. It’s high time to pass the RH bill.”

Cayetano and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago are the principal authors of the RH bill.

It would be considered for approval on second reading when Congress resumes session later this month.

Source: ABS-CBN News