Manila: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding health benefits through evidence-based policies and actuarial projections. In a statement on Wednesday, PhilHealth Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado assured Filipinos that their contributions are being maximized to deliver wider coverage and improved health services.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mercado emphasized the importance of sufficient funding from Congress and citizen contributions over the past years to achieve these goals. He highlighted the necessity for both public and private sectors to provide services in the expanded packages, which can be achieved through proper fund allocation for Universal Health Care (UHC) implementation.

Mercado expressed gratitude for the support from Congress and the Filipino people, ensuring that every contribution made is effectively utilized. He also noted that from late last year to mid-year, PhilHealth expanded major benefits without raising premiums. The case rate of approximately 9,000 packages increased by 50 percent, and new services were introduced. Furthermore, PhilHealth secured a PHP284-billion corporate operating budget for 2025, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year.