00:00The Speaker of the House defended the recent decisions made by the legislative branch on certain allocations
00:07included in the 2025 national budget. One of them being the controversial
00:12zero subsidy for field health. In relation to this, the House leader gave his assurance
00:18the lower house will find a way to ease the burden of field health members. How?
00:24PTV's Mela Liz Morris reveals in this report.
00:30The House of Representatives is considering a one-year suspension of field health members' monthly premium
00:36contributions pending an inquiry to determine if the agency's financial stability can support this measure.
00:41This was announced by House Speaker Martin Dumaldis during his speech on the last day of the session of Congress before it goes on
00:48recess. They will launch a thorough and impartial investigation on how field health's funds will be managed next year.
00:55If funds remain stable and in surplus, we will recommend a one-year suspension of premium payments for all paying members.
01:03This will serve as a form of relief to millions of Filipinos
01:07already grappling with inflation and rising prices.
01:11The House leader also defended the funding for several government's Ayuda programs against critics.
01:24On top of this, Romualdez also insisted that the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, which the two houses of Congress have passed, can respond to the needs of every Filipino.
01:41He added, they ensured every sector is supported, from agriculture to education, from healthcare to infrastructure.
01:48For the part of the Senate, Senator Aimee Marcos had this call for the Department of Budget and Management and other agencies.
01:54I also urge the DBN not to go back to the FLR system, the so-called four-later release.
