The Marcos administration is set to deliver the largest single-year boost to universal healthcare (UHC) in the country’s history, allocating P113 billion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for 2026, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto announced Saturday.

Recto said the final subsidy combines the P53.13 billion originally proposed with a fully restored P60 billion, “fulfilling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive issued last September to return previously withheld funds to PhilHealth.”

“This administration promised to protect underprivileged Filipinos through better healthcare. With the P113-billion allocation, we are not just keeping that promise, we are exceeding it,” Recto stressed.

“This is the largest single-year investment for the poor under universal healthcare,” he added.

The subsidy will directly support the healthcare needs of indigent families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sectors, ensuring expanded PhilHealth coverage without additional costs to beneficiaries.

Recto noted that a significant portion of the funding will come from sin tax revenues collected from alcohol and tobacco products, which are redirected to life-saving healthcare services.

“The unprecedented P113-billion subsidy will directly support the healthcare needs of indigent families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable sectors, ensuring that millions receive the expanded PhilHealth coverage without additional burden,” he said.

He also assured that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will release the funds promptly and transparently to enable PhilHealth to immediately expand benefits and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for millions of Filipinos.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. previously emphasized the importance of restoring the P60 billion, noting it would not only ensure reliable and quality service but also expand PhilHealth’s programs and coverage.