By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
With the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program introduced by the Department of Health (DOH) in July 2025 undergoing heightened scrutiny vis-à-vis introduction of Section 19 of Republic Act No. 12314 in the 2026 national budget, Malacañang reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to this initiative.
At a press briefing Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued clarifications on an earlier statement made by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on the issue of guarantee letters raised by the media.
Herbosa said in a statement, “Zero balance billing na po ang inutos ng Presidente, bayad na ang bill ninyo. Magpa-admit kayo sa basic accommodation at zero balance po, hindi kayo iwi-withhold ng treatment; treatment will be given to you.”
He added further, “Kung ikaw ay nagpunta sa private hospital, talagang may babayaran ka kasi nag-private ka eh. You have to pay for the doctor, the room, the medicines because you went to a private hospital. But for the DOH hospitals, zero balance.”
This, as Castro lamented Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s remarks on an interview, where he questioned the credibility of the Health chief’s pronouncements on the agency’s stance on guarantee letters requested by patients to avail of extra financial support for their medication needs.
Malacañang mouthpiece enumerated, “Unang-una po, ‘yong guarantee letter, 2026 pa lang po ito ipapa-implement. So dapat malaman po mismo ni Mayor Magalong yung timeline [ng ZBB]. Kung sa tingin po niya ito ay pang-epal, bakit kaya andami rin niyang GLs.
Pangalawa po, may mga pagkakataon po na nadidinig po natin kadalasan ang negatibong mga reaksyon ng mayor sa pamahalaan. Wala naman pong problema at nadidinig po yan ng Pangulo, pero sana po ay naging maingay din siya noong panahon ng dating Pangulong Duterte.”
Castro concluded her remarks by reminding constituents in Baguio City that they may avail of services from the basic accommodations for free under the ZBB without resorting to guarantee letters, noting that the Baguio City Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) operates under the supervision of the DOH.
jpv
