"The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of P5 billion to cover the national government’s counterpart for health insurance premiums of indigents from 2007 to 2010.
DBM Secretary Florencio B. Abad said that the release partly fulfils the P6.5B unpaid obligations of the previous government to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). The remaining balance of P1.5B is scheduled for release later on.
“Universal healthcare coverage for all, especially for the poor and the vulnerable, is a priority of President Aquino. To ensure the integrity of the healthcare fund for indigent Filipinos, we have to settle the obligations left unpaid in the previous administration,” he said."
