Building on plans to extend zero-balance billing to select LGU hospitals, the Department of Health advocates redirecting additional MAIFIP funds directly to local units to bypass politicians' guarantee letters and speed up implementation amid 2026 budget debates.
Following recent announcements to include LGU hospitals in the zero-balance billing program with P1 billion in Senate funding, the Department of Health is now pushing to realign further increases to the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program directly to LGU hospitals during bicameral conference committee talks for the 2026 national budget.
DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo emphasized faster disbursement if funds go straight to LGU accounting, avoiding guarantee letters from politicians. "Mas mabilis kasi kung pupunta diretso sa LGU accounting," he told One News PH on December 15. Malacañang echoed this, with Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stating the funds "will not be coursed through politicians" but implemented by DOH and LGU hospitals.
The DOH proposes 70-80% of funds to LGU hospitals and 20-30% to a catastrophic health fund. Critics, including Sen. JV Ejercito, argue the P51 billion MAIFIP hike contradicts the Universal Health Care Act by enabling political patronage. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson supports it if a provision bans guarantee letters. The House defends the allocation as aiding over 1.1 million beneficiaries. Bicam proceedings continue.
