Hontiveros: New MAIFIP guidelines must ease patients' access to aid

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday called on the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that the new guidelines it is crafting for its medical assistance program will make access to health services easier for indigent patients.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said the revised guidelines of the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Persons (MAIFIP) should clearly set the processes and requirements in receiving financial aid, and remove the patronage politics perpetuated through guarantee letters.

"Klaro ang naging desisyon namin sa Senado at House: Hindi na dapat mag-door-to-door pa sa mga opisina ng pulitiko para manlimos ng guarantee letters para lang makapagpagamot," she said in a statement. 

(Our decision in the Senate and House is clear: People should no longer go door-to-door to politicians' offices just to beg for guarantee letters in order to get treatment.) 

"Kaya inaasahan ko na klaro din sa DOH na ang bagong guidelines na ilalabas nila tungkol sa MAIFIP ay dapat magpadali sa pagkuha ng tulong at hindi lalong magpahirap sa mga pasyente at kanilang pamilya," she added. 

(That's why I hope that it is also clear with the DOH that the new guidelines they will issue regarding MAIFIP will make it easier to get assistance and not make it harder for patients and their families.) 

When President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), he committed that the government would "strictly implement" the provision in the national budget that bars politicians from distributing cash and other forms of financial assistance.

An "anti-epal" special provision was included in the 2026 budget, which states that all cash assistance and other forms of financial aid—including the MAIFIP—shall be distributed exclusively by authorized government officers and personnel or accredited partners only. 

READ: What is the 'Anti-Epal' provision in the 2026 national budget bill?

Sought for comment, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the President has already given instructions to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa regarding the matter. 

"Yes. President Marcos Jr. ordered DOH Secretary Herbosa to, in accordance with the law, lay down the guidelines for MAIFIP so that it can be availed by Filipino patients easily, with dignity, and without political interference," Domingo said. 

Herbosa said last week that the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the MAIFIP program would incorporate such provisions that prohibit politicians from distributing financial assistance.

The IRR is targeted to be completed by the end of the month or by February.

Hontiveros, meanwhile, also said she is ready to begin the period of interpellations on Senate Bill 1593, or the proposed Universal Health Care Medical Assistance Program (UHC MAP) which will directly provide financial aid to hospitals and its patients.

"Kapag naipasa ang batas na ito, klaro na hindi na kailangan pang manghingi ang mga pasyente ng [guarantee letter] sa mga pulitiko. Mag-a-apply na lang sila sa mga medical social workers sa ospital at mabibigyan sila ng tulong sa loob ng 72 hours," she said.

(Once passed into law, it will be clear that patients would no longer need to ask for a guarantee letter from politicians. They just have to apply to the medical social workers at hospitals and they would already be given help within 72 hours.) 

"Tuldukan na natin ang panlilimos para sa [guarantee letter]. Ang tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan para sa pagpapagamot ay dapat ibigay diretso sa kanila," she stressed. "Lahat ng nangangailangan, dapat mabigyan ng tulong. Walang kapalit. Walang kondisyon. Walang palakasan."

(Let's stop the practice of begging for guarantee letters. The aid that our countrymen need for treatment should be given directly to them. All those in need should be given help. There should be no substitute, no conditions, no favoring anyone.) 

GMA has reached out to DOH for a comment, but it has yet to respond as of posting time. — VDV, GMA Integrated News