2 months ago
41
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
January 8, 2026 | 10:53am
A composite photo of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Philhealth logo.
Various sources
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Philhealth has been ordered to grant a general amnesty for companies that have failed to pay their contributions to the state health insurer, giving them one year to catch up on missed payments.
In a video statement posted on Thursday, January 8, Marcos said that he was aware of the impact that the 3% contribution to Philhealth has on citizens.
“Inutusan ko po ang PhilHealth na magpatupad ng general amnesty para sa mga negosyante, private employer, mga self-employed na ating mga kababayan na hindi nabayarang kontribusyon sa PhilHealth,” Marcos said.
(I have directed Philhealth to grant a general amnesty to the business heads, private employers, and self-employed citizens who have not paid their contributions to Philhealth.)
Marcos said that this will be a one-time waiver of the interest for the year 2026.
Employers will be given one year to catch up on missed contributions from 2013 to 2024.
This will help around 300,000 beneficiaries, according to the president.
“Hinihikayat din natin ang ating mga employer na i-update na ang lahat ng information ninyo at magrehistro – irehistro ang mga empleyado ninyo sa Yaman ng Kalusugan o ‘yung ating tinatawag na YAKAP program,” Marcos said.
(We also encourage our employers to update their information and to register employees under the Health is Wealth or YAKAP program.)
The YAKAP program provides basic lab services and select medicines to Philhealth members, covering 75 essential medicines worth up to P20,000 a year.
Philhealth reported a large surge in contributions in 2025 compared to the year before, saying that benefit payments reached P289.26 billion— a 76% increase.
However, Philhealth president and CEO Edwin Mercado said that there was still a long way to go, as the state insurer needed wider coverage and access.
