DBM OKs release of over P25 billion for 8 million indigents’ health insurance

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman speaks during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum held at Café Adriatico in Malate, Manila, in this file photo taken on December 14, 2022. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the releasing of P25.16 billion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to cover the one-year health insurance premiums of 8.3 million qualified and enrolled Filipino indigents.

DBM on Thursday said its Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the special allotment release order on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

The department defines indigent persons as those with no visible means of income or whose income is insufficient for family subsistence, as identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, based on specific criteria.

The fund will be sourced from authorized allotments in the 2023 national budget.

“Pinamulat sa atin ng pandemya ang kahalagahan ng mas matatag na health care system, kaya’t pinagsisikapan po natin na ilapit ito sa ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na po sa mga higit na nangangailangan,” Pangandaman said in a statement.

(The COVID-19 pandemic made us realize the importance of a stronger healthcare system, so we are working hard to make it more accessible to the people, especially those who need it the most.)

In April, DBM approved the release of a total of P42.9 billion to cover one-year health insurance premiums of over 8.5 million senior citizens nationwide.

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APL/abc