Malacañang on Monday said the proposed increase in funding for the Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) aims to expand zero balance billing and improve access to healthcare services, particularly in local government unit (LGU) hospitals.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Health (DOH) is pushing to raise the MAIFIP budget to better address zero balance billing requirements, including in hospitals not directly under the DOH.

“May mga ospital po dito na hindi po kaugnay ng DOH hospitals at nais pong palawakin pa ang serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan po ng pagbibigay din po ng zero balance billing sa LGU hospitals (There are hospitals that are not affiliated with DOH hospitals, and the aim is to further expand services to our people by also providing zero balance billing in LGU hospitals),” she said in a press briefing.

Castro said the funds will not pass through politicians amid concerns raised by some groups and personalities that the program could undermine human dignity.

When asked whether President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is likely to veto the proposed budget increase, Castro said the issue does not involve political discretion.

“Didiretso po ito sa local government units, sa LGU hospitals, at ang magpapatupad din po nito ay DOH (It will go directly to the local government units, to LGU hospitals, and the DOH will also be the one implementing it),” she said.

Under the proposed 2026 national budget, the MAIFIP funding increased from PHP24.23 billion to PHP51.6 billion.

The Palace said the increase is intended to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure that indigent and financially incapacitated patients receive adequate medical assistance without financial burden. (PNA)