Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. assured legislators that the agency has big accomplishments to report to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the Chief Executive can use in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Ledesma said these accomplishments include increased coverage for cancer patients, among others.
Ledesma also thanked Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez for challenging him to do more as head of the agency and giving the full support of the House of Representatives in its endeavor to provide more services to Filipinos.
“I have been with PhilHealth for 18 months. From the day I joined, I promised President Marcos and the First Lady that we would move PhilHealth forward and we would really address the healthcare of all Filipinos,” Ledesma said during the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Philippine Cancer Center on Friday.
“I can assure you, and I’ve assured the First Lady and the President just last week, that in the upcoming SONA, a lot of accomplishments will come from PhilHealth and the Department of Health,” he added.
Romualdez, House committee on appropriations chairman Zaldy Co and Ako Bicol party-list group, Public Works and Highways Sec. Manuel Bonoan, local executives and other lawmaker were present during the groundbreaking of the Cancer Center.
The allocation for the center’s fixed assets and critical services was made through the House Committee on Appropriations as part of the mandate of Republic Act (RA) 11215 and the Resource Stratified Framework set by the National Integrated Cancer Control Council.
Ledesma expressed gratitude to Speaker Romualdez for pushing him to implement reforms in the PhilHealth that will benefit its members and Filipinos in general.
“I would like to thank Speaker Martin. Speaker, I don’t know if you recall, day one ko sa (my day one) PhilHealth, sinabi mo sa akin (you said to me), full support kami (we support you), basta (as long as) no room for failure, failure is not an option,” Ledesma said.
“I accepted your challenge, Speaker, and I’d like to think, based on the words of PBBM, so far, Speaker, we have delivered. Although the best is yet to come, Speaker. Promise po ‘yan,” he added.
Ledesma bared that once the Philippine Cancer Center becomes operational, PhilHealth will immediately work for its inclusion in its list of contracted partners so that “Filipinos may avail of these life-saving packages.”
“Let me assure you that PhilHealth will maintain its commitment to battle cancer at every step. We are one with the Philippine Cancer Center’s mission of bringing hope to every Filipino in the fight against cancer,” he said.
PhilHealth has just increased its breast cancer coverage in its Z-Benefit program.
“After more than a decade, this particular package will see an increase of more than tenfold, 13 times to be exact po. A coverage of up to P1.4 million shall be afforded to breast cancer patients. The previous amount was P100,000, and just recently we had increased it 14 times to P1.4 million,” Ledesma said.
“I’d like to think we were able to move forward substantially, and with the 24/7 never-ending support and help of our dear Speaker Martin Romualdez, we continue to do so,” he said.