The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to receive additional funding next year following a P16.5-billion budget adjustment approved during the bicameral conference committee (BICAM) deliberations on the national budget.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, head of the Senate contingent at the BICAM meeting, confirmed the increase, saying the adjustment aims to cover the government’s shortfall in its mandated share to PhilHealth from revenues generated by sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

The additional funds, sourced from savings of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), are expected to strengthen PhilHealth’s capacity to provide medical assistance and improve health benefit packages for more Filipinos, particularly indigent and financially incapacitated patients.

Gatchalian said the move ensures continued access to healthcare services and helps sustain PhilHealth’s programs amid rising medical costs, reinforcing the government’s commitment to universal health care.