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December 16, 2025 | 7:30am
Undated photo of medical equipment in a hospital.
The Philippine STAR / Miguel De Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said that any increase in the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program (MAIFIP) would be better off realigned to local government units.
This comes after a heated debate in the bicameral conference committee over whether to grant the House contingent’s request to raise the MAIFIP budget to P51 billion.
The health aid program has faced criticism for being lumped with other social aid initiatives, with civil society citing its pork-like features, where guarantee letters from politicians allow indigent patients to access more affordable healthcare.
DOH Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Albert Domingo said on Monday, December 15, that MAIFIP funds would be more efficiently and quickly disbursed if they were sent directly to LGUs.
"Mas mabilis kasi kung pupunta diretso sa LGU accounting (It would be faster if it goes straight to the LGU accounting)," he told One News PH during "Morning Matters."
Domingo explained that the MAIFIP is not the most effective way to expand the zero-balance billing program, as it relies on the government’s old model, requiring Filipinos to submit documentary requirements, such as proof of income.
Zero-balance billing is available to any Filipino enrolled in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), regardless of socioeconomic status or financial capacity, as long as they are admitted to a basic ward in a DOH hospital.
70–80% to LGU hospitals, rest for catastrophic care
Domingo said the ideal scenario would allocate 70 to 80% of the additional funds directly to LGU hospitals, allowing zero-balance billing to be processed faster and ensuring financial assistance no longer has to go through politicians or the DOH for guarantee letters.
"Pag nandun ka na sa hospital, ... dapat kapag dating ng bill mo, naka-zero na (When you’re already in the hospital, … your bill should already be zero by the time it arrives)," he added.
Meanwhile, the remaining 20 to 30% could make up the catastrophic health fund. Domingo said that the fund would simply serve as an emergency fund during cases where one's PhilHealth savings are not enough to help cover medical costs. It may also be earmarked for private hospitals and clinics not covered by the zero-balance billing program.
Funding debate continues
The House defended its push for a P51-billion MAIFIP budget, noting that cuts would impact more than 1.1 million beneficiaries. Domingo, however, said the real question is not whether there should be additional funding for the health sector, but where it would be best allocated.
"Hindi naman mawawala ang pera. ang tanong ay saan siya dadaan. Andyan ang pera eh," he added. "So ngayon, ang tanong sa health financing [ay] ano ang pinakamabilis at pinaka-equitable na paraan para bayaran ang gastusin pang kalusugan?"
(The money isn’t going away. The question is, where will it pass through? The funds are there. So now, the question in health financing is: what is the fastest and most equitable way to cover healthcare expenses?)
The DOH spokesperson said that redirecting the additional healthcare funds to a more efficient system would still ensure coverage for the 1 million patients benefiting from MAIFIP. Allocating the funds to another line item under health programs does not automatically mean these beneficiaries would be left without support.
In a message to reporters, Domingo said the DOH proposed a special provision in the MAIFIP where any additional funds would be directed instead to expanding the zero-balance billing to LGU hospitals.
Both the House and Senate have yet to complete the bicameral conference committee proceedings and bring the 2026 budget bill to the plenary for ratification. Only once the bill is approved, signed, and ratified will MAIFIP receive the additional P51 billion.
