President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has appointed Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Mercado took his oath of office before Marcos in a small ceremony on Tuesday.

A US-trained orthopedic surgeon, Mercado brings 35 years of experience in hospital management. He has served as vice chairman of the Mercado General Hospital/Qualimed Health Network since March 2021, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

Mercado earned his medical degree from the University of the Philippines in 1987. In 2023, he completed a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard Medical School and holds an Executive Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina.

In a statement, PhilHealth welcomed Mercado's appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the agency.

“With Dr. Mercado's solid experience in the medical field and proven leadership and management expertise, we are confident that through his leadership, PhilHealth will continue to successfully carry out the mandate of the National Health Insurance Program and fulfill the aspirations of Universal Health Care for the benefit of all 115 million Filipinos,” the agency said.

PhilHealth also extended its gratitude to outgoing President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. for spearheading key reforms over the past two years, particularly in claims payments and benefit enhancements.

Herbosa also welcomes appointment

"The Department of Health thanks President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for appointing Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation," Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.

"[I] look forward to working with new PCEO Dr. Edwin Mercado very soon," Herbosa added.

Herbosa, who also serves as the chairperson of PhilHealth Board of Directors, also thanked outgoing PhilHealth Chief Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. for his service.