At least 150 demonstrators belonging to Cebu-based militant and advocacy groups gathered in front of PhilHealth office here on Thursday, December 26, protesting the lack of funding for the agency in the 2025 budget.The protesters specifically called for the restoration of the subsidy and increased funding for social services ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s signing of the General Appropriations Act on December 30.
The protesters accused the president of playing 'scrooge,' and warned that these budget cuts threaten to dismantle vital health and social services that millions of Filipinos rely on.Partido Manggagawa Cebu Chapter Vice President Alan Esponga argued that the proposed budget would harm workers and vulnerable sectors, criticizing the administration for missing a key opportunity to support Filipinos, especially during the holidays.The protesters emphasized that the cuts would disproportionately impact low-income and indigenous communities.Esponga dismissed Marcos' assurances that PhilHealth benefits would remain intact despite the subsidy cut, stating that members and beneficiaries are not merely asking for the status quo but for significant improvements to benefits and services.Esponga cited the promises made during budget deliberations, including a 50 percent increase in PhilHealth coverage in 2025, which has yet to be fulfilled.Additionally, Jai-Jai Ampoon, spokesman for Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro), said that these groups rely heavily on government support for health care and other basic needs.'If we look at our hospitals like Sotto and Cebu City Medical Center, patients are often gathering there and not being attended to properly,' said Ampoon.In addition to their grievances, the protesters criticized the budget cuts to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, and Department of Labor and Employmen
Philhealth Budget Cuts Protest Social Services Healthcare
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