President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday visited the Department of Health’s Eastern Visayas Medical Center (DOH-EVMC) to personally oversee the implementation of the “Bayad na Bill Mo” program, also known as the zero-balance billing policy.

President Marcos witnessed firsthand how the Bayad na Bill Mo program entirely covered the remaining hospital bill of PhP372,561.44 for Rico Ligo, 48, a Fishermall maintenance worker from Malabon, who was on vacation in Alangalang, Leyte, when he was injured in a stabbing incident.

Joined by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, President Marcos checked on the program’s full implementation, ensuring that patients admitted to basic or ward accommodation received essential medical care without out-of-pocket expenses.

During the visit, President Marcos met with hospital officials led by EVMC Chief Dr. Joseph Michael Jaro, as well as frontline healthcare workers and patients.

The President toured key hospital facilities and reviewed actual patient cases to assess the program’s impact personally.

One of the cases President Marcos reviewed was that of Ligo, who spent three weeks in the hospital, including two weeks in the ICU, and underwent two major operations due to three stab wounds. His total hospital bill reached PhP406,973.93. After a PhP32,760 deduction from PhilHealth, the remaining balance was PhP372,561.44.

President Marcos checked the bill and accompanied Ligo’s 17-year-old daughter, Rica, to the billing station.

The President saw firsthand how the Bayad na Bill Mo program covered the remaining balance.

“She just came down to bring – parang hotel, mag-check out. Kasi kung titingnan ninyo wala na ang, zero talaga, zero billing. Wala na siyang kailangang bayaran,” President Marcos said in a brief statement during his visit.

“I wanted to see kung maganda naman ang patakbo sa ‘yung ating zero billing na ginagawa ngayon … Nakikita ko naman, everybody knows what they are supposed to do,” the President added.

The President said he instructed Herbosa to ensure that all DOH hospitals are aware of the zero-balance billing policy procedure to ensure the smooth implementation of the program.

“Patuloy lang. Pagagandahin pa natin. This is one good thing pero marami pa naman kailangang gawin for the healthcare system and magagawa naman natin. May makikita tayong improvement talaga,” President Marcos said. | PND