GUIMBA, NUEVA ECIJA—In a significant announcement on his 67th birthday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that all patients currently in Level 3 public hospitals across the Philippines would receive free medical services, highlighting a broader initiative aimed at enhancing governmental support for the public.
According to Philippines News Agency, the declaration was made during the launch of the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. President Marcos stated, “We also aim to help our countrymen who have medical needs. So today, we will cover all the fees of patients in all public Level 3 hospitals in the country.” This policy is part of an effort to demonstrate the tangible changes his administration is striving to bring about.
The initiative encompasses all inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services at 22 tertiary hospitals across the country, including prominent facilities such as the Philippine General Hospital and the Philippine Heart Center. The Department of Health is set to release PHP328 million to cover these expenses, ensuring that no patient currently undergoing treatment has to bear any cost.
Beyond healthcare, President Marcos also announced a PHP3.19 billion financial aid package distributed nationwide as part of the ‘Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat’ Program. This program, launched in 82 provinces, provides a wide array of government services aimed at boosting livelihoods and supporting daily needs, particularly in areas recently struck by calamities.
Participating agencies include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Trade and Industry, among others. Specific measures include job fairs, agricultural product discounts through Kadiwa stores, and substantial financial allocations for employment and training programs facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The multifaceted approach reflects President Marcos’s commitment to serving the Filipino people and fostering substantial and lasting improvements in their lives. “Of the many things that can be celebrated on this day, the most special is the opportunity to serve every Filipino and bring the government closer to the people,” President Marcos remarked, emphasizing that the day’s celebrations were focused on national service and development.