Aside from getting a salary increase to all salary grades, government workers will receive an annual medical allowance. The announcement was recently made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The medical allowance will serve as a subsidy or aid, providing government employees with access to better healthcare services. More than one million government personnel are expected to benefit from the medical allowance, which will be given yearly.
PBBM Confirms Medical Allowance for Gov’t Employees to be Handled by Department of Budget and Management
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22, 2024, President Marcos mentioned the medical allowance for government employees, according to a DBM press relase.
“Para naman sa ating mga kawani ng gobyerno, mayroon silang maaasahang medical allowance bilang karagdagang benepisyo sa susunod na taon (For our government workers, they will receive medical allowance as additional benefit next year),” he stated.
Beginning in 2025, each government employee will receive a medical allowance as subsidy for the availment of Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) benefits or HMO-type benefits. They can use it for different kinds of medical services or health-related emergencies.
As for the budget, a total of PHP 9.5 billion has been allocated for government workers’ medical allowance next year, under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MBPF) for 2025. The allowance will cover personnel in national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations of the executive department.
“As you know, health care is a top priority of this administration,” said Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.
“Sa pamamagitan po ng pagbibigay ng medical allowance sa ating mga lingkod-bayan, matutulungan po natin silang maibsan ang kanilang medical expenses kung kinakailangan, at masigurong napangangalagaan ang kanilang kalusugan (By giving medical allowance to our public servants, we are helping to support their medical expenses and ensure their good health)” she explained.
In another DBM press release, Sec. Pangandaman thanked President Marcos for issuing Executive Order No. 64, titled “Updating the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel and Authorizing the Grant of An Additional Allowance.”
“Matagal ko na po itong pangarap na matanggap ng ating mga government workers (This has been my dream for our government workers),” she shared. “I have been pushing for this advocacy since 2017, and I am happy that only in the administration of President BBM that this advocacy finally became a reality.”
“Ayaw po natin na lugi ang ating mga government employees pagdating sa benepisyo (We do not want our government employees to be in lack when it comes to benefits),” she said.
“Masaya po tayo na kasama sa EO ang medical allowance. Pagdating ko sa executive, napansin ko na wala po tayong HMO. Pinaglaban po talaga natin ito. For 2025 National Expenditure Program, P9.5 billion ang nakalaan dito (We are happy that the EO includes medical allowance. When I became part of the executive department, I noticed that we didn’t have HMO. We fought for this. For 2025 National Expenditure Program, PHP 9.5 billion has been allocated for this),” the DBM Secretary added.
Video: Medical Allowance for Government Workers
To learn more about the upcoming medical allowance for government employees, watch this news report shared by ANC 24/7 YouTube channel:
Final Thoughts
Indeed, government employees deserve medical allowance or benefits, just like people working in the private sector. Thanks to this latest Presidential Executive Order, our public servants will have better access to healthcare services.
Meanwhile, for low-income Filipinos who need help with their medical expenses, check out this article about how you can apply for medical assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).