During the Senate plenary deliberations on Tuesday, November 12, on the 2025 budget for the Department of Health (DOH), Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, reminded PhilHealth of its commitment to incorporate its Konsulta Program into the country’s growing number of Super Health Centers established nationwide.
This initiative, he emphasized, is essential to ensuring that public health services, particularly preventive care, consultations and check-ups, are accessible to more Filipinos.
The conversation unfolded with Go stressing the importance of PhilHealth’s commitment to support the accreditation of Super Health Centers under the Konsulta Program.
“Ito pong sa Super Health Center dahil sabi ko sa PhilHealth i-accredit po itong mga Super Health Center dahil sobra-sobra ‘yung pondo ninyo. Salamat, tinaasan n’yo,” Go stated.
He underscored the critical need for public awareness: “So importante po ngayon ‘yung information campaign n’yo po, na dapat alam po ng mga kababayan natin na pwede silang magpa-konsulta.”
According to Go, these Super Health Centers are the backbone of local healthcare accessibility, especially in underserved areas, with more than 700 of these centers funded in the last three years under the DOH’s initiative.
He then posed a key question: “So sa ngayon po, may we know how many Super Health Centers are planned to be built next year, on the fourth year po?”
Senator Pia Cayetano responded, confirming that for 2025, 61 Super Health Centers are targeted for construction, with a budget allocation of PHP 748 million.
Furthering the discussion, Go turned his attention to how PhilHealth’s Konsulta Program could be made more accessible at the community level, especially through Super Health Centers.
He mentioned PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma’s commitment to strengthening this process, explaining that, with partnerships between local government units (LGUs) and PhilHealth, the program could be more accessible to Filipinos who often don’t know where to seek healthcare services.
“Madam sponsor, may we know how the Konsulta Program of PhilHealth be accessed in Super Health Centers? Pinangako po ito ni (Philhealth) President Ledesma na paigtingin niya po ang proseso, partnership po ng LGU and the PhilHealth para magiging easier po ‘yung access ng mga kababayan natin dahil hindi nga nila alam saan sila magpapa-check-up o magpa-konsulta, at malaking tulong po ito, early detection po ‘yung nagpapa-konsulta tayo para hindi na lumala ‘yung sakit.”
Go asked if there were any bottlenecks preventing funds from being utilized effectively. He expressed concerns about whether PhilHealth’s funds are being maximized, given the organization’s current financial capacity.
“So paano ba ‘yung downloading po ng pondo ng LGU from PhilHealth at naku-comply ba ito? Dahil sobrang dami po ng pondo ng PhilHealth sa ngayon,” he queried.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, who was sponsoring the health budget, provided an overview of the current reach of the Konsulta Program, noting that as of August 31, 2024, there were 24.6 million registered beneficiaries. She emphasized that this figure represents “less than one-fourth of the population,” and that significant progress is still needed to bring the program to the wider populace.
She elaborated on the infrastructure supporting the program, with “2,900 accredited providers” currently offering Konsulta services, though she noted the gap remains substantial: “So, there’s more than 80 million that need to be covered.”
This, she explained, is part of a phased rollout approach, allowing the program to adapt and improve as it scales.
When asked if these numbers would be increased in the coming year, Cayetano confirmed, “According to them, they intend to double this number for next year.”
In response, Go pointed out that the program’s capacity is flexible, allowing for growth based on the number of doctors available in each facility: “If there’s one doctor in one facility, 20,000. If there are two doctors, 40,000.” He underscored the importance of ensuring that these targets are met to maximize the program’s impact across the country.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, and with more Super Health Centers planned for the coming year, the senator is driving significant strides in making public health services more accessible to Filipinos nationwide. Go emphasized the importance of preventive care and its potential to provide early intervention for health concerns before they escalate into serious issues.
