DBM Press Release
Funding to cover DOH hospitals nationwide, six pilot LGU hospitals
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of P10.377 billion to the Department of Health (DOH) to support the implementation of the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program, strengthening the government’s push to ease the financial burden of hospitalization on Filipino families.
The P10.377-billion approved funding will support the implementation of ZBB in DOH hospitals nationwide and six pilot local government unit (LGU) hospitals, as the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. advances Universal Health Care and works to reduce out-of-pocket health expenses, particularly among Filipinos who need government assistance the most.
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said the approved funding translates the government’s health commitments into actual resources that can directly benefit patients and their families.
“No Filipino should have to choose between getting the medical care they need and protecting their family from a hospital bill they cannot afford. This P10.377-billion release is about making sure that when our people get sick, government is there to help carry the burden,” Acting Secretary De Leon said.
“Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s leadership, we are putting public funds where they can make a real difference in people’s lives. Ang budget ng bayan ay dapat maramdaman ng mamamayan—lalo na sa panahong pinaka-kailangan nila ang gobyerno. Through Zero Balance Billing, we want more Filipino patients to focus on getting well, instead of worrying about how they will pay for their hospitalization,” he added.
P9.377 billion for ZBB in DOH hospitals nationwide
Of the total amount, P9.377 billion was approved to support the implementation of the ZBB Program in DOH hospitals across the country.
Of this amount, P3.342 billion was released for DOH hospitals in Metro Manila, ensuring that major government medical centers serving patients in the National Capital Region have the resources needed to support the implementation of the program.
The covered DOH hospitals in Metro Manila include:
* Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center;
* Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital;
* East Avenue Medical Center;
* Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center;
* National Center for Mental Health;
* National Children’s Hospital;
* Philippine Orthopedic Center;
* Quirino Memorial Medical Center;
* Research Institute for Tropical Medicine;
* Rizal Medical Center;
* San Lazaro Hospital; and
* Tondo Medical Center.
The remaining allocation of P6.035 billion will support the implementation of ZBB in DOH regional hospitals and other government health facilities outside Metro Manila, extending the program’s reach to patients across the country.
P1 billion brings Zero Balance Billing closer to communities
In a separate release, the DBM also downloaded P1 billion to support the implementation of the ZBB Program in six pilot LGU hospitals in Benguet, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Aklan, and Sarangani.
The funding expands the reach of the program beyond DOH-run hospitals and brings government support closer to patients seeking treatment in their own provinces and communities.
The approved funding is chargeable against the DOH budget under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The Zero Balance Billing Program forms part of the government’s broader efforts to advance Universal Health Care by helping ensure that eligible patients admitted to participating government hospitals can receive covered health services with minimal or no remaining hospital bill, subject to applicable guidelines and eligibility requirements.
Through the P10.377-billion approved funding, the government aims to address one of the most immediate concerns confronting Filipino families during illness—the financial burden of hospitalization—while strengthening access to affordable and quality public health services nationwide.
On top of this P10.377 billion fund release, it may be recalled that earlier in August, the DBM separately released P1.855 billion in additional funding to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), of which P800 million was specifically allocated for the implementation of ZBB.
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FILIPINO VERSION
NEWS MATERIAL
Department Budget and Management
Ika-1 ng Setyembre 2026
DBM, inaprubahan ang P10.377-B para sa Zero Balance Billing, pinalalakas ang hakbang ng gobyerno na ibsan ang gastusin ng mga pasyente sa ospital
Pondo, sakop ang mga DOH hospital sa buong bansa at anim na pilot LGU hospitals
Inaprubahan ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang pagpapalabas ng P10.377 bilyon para sa Department of Health (DOH) para suportahan ang pagpapatupad ng Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program, bilang bahagi ng pagpapalakas ng hakbang ng gobyerno na maibsan ang pinansiyal na pasanin ng pagpapaospital ng mga pamilyang Pilipino.
Ang inaprubahang pondo na nagkakahalagang P10.377 bilyon ay susuporta sa pagpapatupad ng ZBB sa mga DOH hospital sa buong bansa at sa anim na pilot hospital sa mga local government unit (LGU), habang isinusulong ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang Universal Health Care at nagsisikap na mabawasan ang mga gastusing direktang binabayaran ng mga pasyente, lalo na ng mga Pilipinong higit na nangangailangan ng tulong ng gobyerno.
Ayon kay DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon, ang inaprubahang pondo ay katuparan ng pangako ng pamahalaan sa pagsulong ng kalusugan tungo sa aktuwal na mga pondong maaaring direktang mapakinabangan ng mga pasyente at kanilang mga pamilya.
“No Filipino should have to choose between getting the medical care they need and protecting their family from a hospital bill they cannot afford. This P10.377-billion release is about making sure that when our people get sick, government is there to help carry the burden,” pahayag ni Acting Secretary De Leon.
“Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s leadership, we are putting public funds where they can make a real difference in people’s lives. Ang budget ng bayan ay dapat maramdaman ng mamamayan—lalo na sa panahong pinaka-kailangan nila ang gobyerno. Through Zero Balance Billing, we want more Filipino patients to focus on getting well, instead of worrying about how they will pay for their hospitalization,” dagdag pa n'ya.
P9.377 bilyon para sa ZBB sa mga DOH hospital sa buong bansa
Sa kabuuang halaga, P9.377 bilyon ang inaprubahan upang suportahan ang pagpapatupad ng ZBB Program sa mga DOH hospital sa buong bansa.
Sa halagang ito, P3.342 bilyon ang inilabas para sa mga DOH hospital sa Metro Manila, upang matiyak na ang mga pangunahing government medical center na nagsisilbi sa mga pasyente sa National Capital Region ay may kinakailangang pondo para sa pagpapatupad ng programa.
Kabilang sa mga DOH hospital sa Metro Manila na saklaw ng programa ang:
• Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center;
• Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital;
• East Avenue Medical Center;
• Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center;
• National Center for Mental Health;
• National Children’s Hospital;
• Philippine Orthopedic Center;
• Quirino Memorial Medical Center;
• Research Institute for Tropical Medicine;
• Rizal Medical Center;
• San Lazaro Hospital; at
• Tondo Medical Center.
Ang natitirang P6.035 bilyong alokasyon ay susuporta naman sa pagpapatupad ng ZBB sa mga DOH regional hospital at iba pang health facilities ng pamahalaan sa labas ng Metro Manila, upang mapalawak ang sakop ng programa at mapakinabangan ng mga pasyente sa buong bansa.
P1 bilyon, inilalapit ang Zero Balance Billing sa mga komunidad
Sa isang hiwalay na pagpapalabas ng pondo, nag-download din ang DBM ng P1 bilyon upang suportahan ang pagpapatupad ng ZBB Program sa anim na pilot LGU hospital sa Benguet, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Aklan, at Sarangani.
Pinalalawak ng pondong ito ang saklaw ng programa bukod pa sa mga ospital na pinamamahalaan ng DOH at inilalapit ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa mga pasyenteng nagpapagamot sa sarili nilang mga lalawigan at komunidad.
Kukunin ang inaprubahang pondo sa budget ng DOH sa ilalim ng FY 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Bahagi ang Zero Balance Billing Program ng mas malawak na pagsisikap ng pamahalaan na isulong ang Universal Health Care sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong na matiyak na ang mga kwalipikadong pasyenteng na-admit sa mga kasaling government hospital ay makatatanggap ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan na may kaunti o walang natitirang bayarin sa ospital, alinsunod sa mga umiiral na alituntunin at kinakailangang requirement.
Sa pamamagitan ng inaprubahang P10.377 bilyong pondo, layunin ng pamahalaan na tugunan ang isa sa mga agarang suliraning kinakaharap ng mga pamilyang Pilipino kapag may nagkakasakit—ang pinansiyal na pasanin ng pagpapaospital—habang pinapalakas ang access sa abot-kaya at de-kalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan para sa publiko sa buong bansa.
Bukod sa pagpapalabas ng P10.377 bilyong pondong ito, matatandaang noong unang bahagi ng Agosto ay hiwalay na nagpalabas din ang DBM ng karagdagang P1.855 bilyon para sa Philippine General Hospital (PGH), kung saan P800 milyon ang partikular na inilaan para sa pagpapatupad ng ZBB.
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