Win Gatchalian to DOH: Do your job; agency awaits guidelines

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday challenged the Department of Health (DOH) to fulfill its mandate, a call the agency welcomed as it awaits guidelines from legislators.

“Ang challenge sa DOH, kay Secretary [Ted] Herbosa, paganahin niya lahat to dahil tapos na trabaho ng Kongreso sa paglalaan ng pondo, dapat paganahin niya naman,” Gatchalian,who is the chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, told Super Radyo dzBB.

(The challenge to the DOH, to Secretary Ted Herbosa, is to implement everything, since Congress has already finished allocating the funds.)

The lawmaker made the statement as he pointed out that the budget for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and zero balance billing increased for 2026.

In response, the Health Department welcomed Gatchalian’s call and said it awaits guidelines from legislators.

“Sang ayon po kami. Hindi naman sa binabalik kay Senator Win pero syempre ang implementation ay susunod sa patakaran, ay susunod dun sa rules at guidelines,” DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said in a separate dzBB interview.

(We agree with the senator. But of course, implementation will follow the rules and guidelines.)

He added that legislators can have oversight on implementing the projects.

Both Gatchalian and Domingo urged health advocates to join in a discourse to improve the healthcare system in the country.

“Open kami sa DOH at sa mga iba’t ibang grupo sa health advocates para pag-usapan kung paano natin ma-achieve itong perfect rights-based, rules-based healthcare system natin,” Gatchalian said.

(Our doors are open to the DOH and various health advocacy groups to discuss how we can achieve a truly rights-based, rules-based healthcare system.)

“Ang imbitasyon namin sa mga grupo na ito ay sumama sila sa mga koordinasyon at intindihin natin yung mga detalye,” Domingo said.

(We invite them to join our coordinations and understand the details.)

The bicameral talks on the 2026 national budget concluded early Thursday morning after four days of deliberations. Both chambers of Congress are eyeing to ratify it by December 29. — RF, GMA Integrated News