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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos urges LGUs to help promote gov't healthcare programs

Marcos urges LGUs to help promote gov't healthcare programs

Published May 21, 2026 07:24 am  |  Updated May 21, 2026 01:48 pm

At A Glance

  • President Marcos called on local government units to help raise awareness about government healthcare programs.
  • The President said many Filipinos still do not know about Zero Balance Billing and expanded PhilHealth benefits.
  • Marcos also stressed the need to better inform the public about free medicine assistance programs.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (PCO)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (PCO)

President Marcos urged local government units (LGUs) to help strengthen public awareness of government healthcare programs, saying many Filipinos remain unaware of the assistance and benefits available to them.

Speaking during the oath-taking of the newly elected national and regional officers of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines at Malacañang, the President underscored the important role of LGUs in ensuring that government services reach communities nationwide.

“Maraming-marami tayong niro-roll out (healthcare programs), pero ang problema, hindi pa alam ng ating mga kababayan na may ganoon (We are rolling out so many healthcare programs, but the problem is many Filipinos still do not know these exist),” he said on Wednesday, May 20

Marcos particularly pointed to the government’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program, noting that public awareness of the initiative remains low despite repeated efforts to promote it.

“Nagugulat ako hanggang ngayon, kasi panay ang sigaw ko ng Zero Balance Billing at hanggang ngayon, hindi pa alam ng marami (I’m surprised because I keep talking about Zero Balance Billing, yet many people still do not know about it),” he said.

The ZBB program provides free healthcare services to patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in Department of Health hospitals.

Expanded PhilHealth benefits

The President also highlighted the expansion of PhilHealth benefits, including increased coverage for dialysis, cancer treatment, and maternal healthcare services.

According to Marcos, these expanded benefits should also be more widely promoted at the local level.

He added that many patients continue to complain about the high cost of medicines despite existing government assistance programs.

“Tapos mayroon ‘yung may sector ng community; nagbibigay naman tayo ng allowance na every year P20,000 na free medicine. So, hindi alam ng tao ito (There are sectors in the community where we provide an allowance of P20,000 worth of free medicine every year, but people still do not know this),” the President said.

“Kasi pumupunta pa ako sa hospital, sasabihin sa akin, ‘Ay naku, kasi napakamahal ng gamot.’ Eh sabi namin eh, ‘Teka, hindi ka dapat nagbabayad ng gamot,’ (Because when I go to hospitals, people still tell me medicines are very expensive. We tell them they should not even be paying for medicines),” he added.

Marcos said local governments play a crucial role in ensuring that healthcare programs are properly communicated to the public, especially in remote communities.

“So, dapat ipaano (ipaalam) natin (So, we really need to inform the people about these),” he added.

Related Tags

President Marcos Bongbong Marcos LGU Healthcare zero balance billing
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