Camiguin: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has launched a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare, food security, and education in the province of Camiguin. The government is focusing on improving essential services to sustain the economic growth of the island province.
According to Philippines News Agency, the President inaugurated the Benoni Port Light Craft Landing Station in Mahinog town before inspecting the Camiguin General Hospital. His visit emphasized the importance of affordable and quality healthcare for residents, particularly through the government's Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program. This program allows qualified patients in government hospitals to be discharged without paying bills, a significant step toward reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses.
From July 2025 to May 2026, a total of PHP67 billion was invested by the government to assist 2.76 million patients through the ZBB program, as reported by Malaca±ang. This initiative has been expanded to include hospitals in Sarangani, Laguna, Aklan, Bataan, Batangas, and Quezon beginning this month. Additional health initiatives such as the Medical Assistance to Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program (MAIFIP) and the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) have also shown progress, aiding millions of Filipinos nationwide.
Beyond healthcare, President Marcos distributed the second round of rice assistance under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to 5,096 vulnerable residents in Camiguin, each receiving 10 kilograms of rice. This initiative is part of the government's strategy to bolster food security and support local government units.
In the realm of education, the President engaged with 100 beneficiaries of the Presidential Scholars Program. Each scholar was awarded PHP20,000 under the 'finisher fund' to help them complete their college education. A further 190 students from Camiguin are anticipated to receive similar support.
The LGSF has extended its reach to 1,266 local government units nationwide, benefiting 23,431 barangays through socio-civic projects under the 'Bawat Barangay Makikinabang' initiative.
