PhilHealth gets new CEO, senators urge reforms

Senate President Chiz Escudero welcomed Dr. Edwin Mercado's appointment as PhilHealth president and CEO but advised him not to repeat past mistakes.

Escudero emphasized the need for PhilHealth to focus on providing benefits that meet citizens' actual healthcare needs rather than what is convenient for the agency.

He noted that Congress denied PhilHealth a subsidy in 2025 due to longstanding inefficiencies, expressing hope for improvements under new leadership.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada offered support for Mercado's non-political background and qualifications, while Senator Grace Poe welcomed his appointment with optimism about addressing ongoing issues.

Poe highlighted the need for PhilHealth members to see tangible benefits from their contributions and urged the agency to address outstanding financial obligations to healthcare workers and institutions.

PhilHealth previously transferred P60 billion in reserve funds to the national treasury under former chief Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., leaving only P29.9 billion with the agency.

Senators had pushed for a leadership change due to PhilHealth's failure to adequately respond to concerns raised during Senate hearings.