President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to universal healthcare on Sunday during his visit to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Batac, Ilocos Norte, where he emphasized the continued implementation of the zero balance billing policy.
Welcomed by Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, Chief of Medical Professional Staff II, along with hospital personnel and patients, President Marcos toured the Oncology, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine wards. He also witnessed the discharge of patients whose treatment costs were fully covered under the zero balance billing program.
Among those who benefited were 21-year-old Jenard Castillo Galasinao of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, treated for severe leptospirosis; 74-year-old Cirilo Urvayo Urcia of Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, who recovered from metabolic encephalopathy and anemia of chronic disease; and 56-year-old Leonardo Batara Tolentino of Piddig, Ilocos Norte, who completed treatment for post-infectious parkinsonism and meningitis.
The President likewise visited the Kangaroo Mother Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, highlighting his administration’s focus on improving maternal, child, and critical healthcare services across the country.
According to Dr. Orosa, more than 400 in-patients at MMMH&MC are expected to benefit from the zero balance billing policy on the same day, while a total of 61,524 patients have already received full hospitalization coverage under the Marcos administration, amounting to ₱1.43 billion in medical expenses shouldered by the government.
To provide direct support, the Office of the President distributed 2,076 meals to patients, their companions, and hospital staff, with additional provisions for new admissions and volunteers. The Ilocos Norte provincial government likewise donated 1,800 food packs, while the Office of House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos handed out 750 sacks of 10-kilo rice to patients and their families.
As one of Northern Luzon’s premier government tertiary hospitals, MMMH&MC continues to serve a vital role in delivering specialized and accessible healthcare to Ilocanos and neighboring provinces.
