Philippine President Marcos has signed the country's PHP6.793tn ($121.3bn) national budget for 2026, restoring government subsidy to the state insurer, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The signing was held on 5 January at Malacañang Palace. Of the total, PHP129.8bn was allocated to strengthen the state insurer, including PHP60?bn that had been wrongfully remitted to the national treasury following a Supreme Court ruling. In 2025, the state insurer rec

By Michael F. Rellosa - Executive Director Christmas Day has passed, but the season remains—and perhaps this quiet stretch between the holidays and the New Year is where its meaning settles deepest. This is the time when families return to work, businesses prepare their next moves, and many Filipinos begin to think again about what the year has brought: the joys, the hardships, and the uncomfortable truth that no matter how hard we work, certain risks remain beyond our contro

25-28 November 2025 Industry and IC combined Delegation

A new study in the Philippines has revealed that the total health spending in the country had reached PHP1.4tn ($23.81bn) in 2024, which translates to about 5% of the country's GDP. According to a news report published in the Philippine daily Inquirer, the study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that the public spending drove most of this growth through the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and local gov

In a circular letter, the Insurance Commission (IC), the regulator of the Philippines, ordered all insurance companies and related entities to undertake the following measures whenever a state of calamity is declared in the country: Expedite the processing approval, and payment of claims for damage attributable to said disasters, including relaxation of company procedures and documentary requirements. Extend the period for submitting claim notices and other required documents

The Philippine insurance industry recorded a 13.25% increase in total premiums as of the third quarter of 2025, according to data from the Insurance Commission (IC). Total industry premiums reached PHP372.08bn ($6.41bn) by the end of September, almost PHP50bn higher than the same period last year. Life insurance premiums climbed 13.77% to PHP299.45bn from PHP263.21bn a year earlier, while the non-life segment rose 13.07% from PHP53.13bn in Q3 2024 to PHP60.07bn in Q3 2025. Co