The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has approved an additional P1.16 billion contribution to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for 2026, increasing its total allocation for the year to P3.85 billion in support of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
The additional contribution was approved by the PCSO Board on Tuesday and is expected to bring the agency’s total remittances to PhilHealth from 2022 to the end of 2026 to about P13.98 billion.
PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said the agency’s contributions help strengthen the country’s healthcare system by easing the financial burden faced by Filipino families during medical emergencies.
“Behind these figures are Filipino families who depend on PhilHealth when a loved one is hospitalized or needs medical treatment. In support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s healthcare agenda, PCSO’s contribution helps strengthen the system that protects Filipinos from having to shoulder the full cost of health care on their own,” Robles said.
The Universal Health Care Act requires PCSO to allocate 40 percent of its Charity Fund to support the implementation of the national health insurance program.
Since 2022, the agency has remitted a total of P11.47 billion through the Bureau of the Treasury.
The remittances amounted to P2.71 billion in 2022, P2 billion in 2023, P2.13 billion in 2024, P2.87 billion in 2025, and P1.94 billion during the first half of 2026.
PCSO expects to remit another P2.51 billion during the second half of 2026, bringing its cumulative contribution to PhilHealth to approximately P13.98 billion by the end of the year.
According to the agency, the funds will help sustain and enhance healthcare benefits for PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents.
Robles said complying with the UHC law also forms part of the PCSO’s broader mandate of providing health and charitable assistance to Filipinos.
“This is not simply a financial obligation for PCSO. It is part of our responsibility to ensure that the revenues generated by the agency are returned to the people in ways that protect their health, preserve their dignity and give families one less burden to carry during difficult times,” he said.
Aside from its contributions to PhilHealth, the PCSO also provides direct medical and financial assistance to patients needing hospitalization, medicines, diagnostic procedures, and other health-related services.
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