THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it approved the release of P42.93 billion to cover the health insurance premiums of senior citizens for one year.
Around 8.6 million enrolled senior citizens are expected to benefit from the release, the DBM said.
Under the 2023 budget, about P79 billion is allocated to cover health insurance premiums for indirect contributors, including seniors.
All senior citizens are covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
At the end of February, the DBM said 61.4% or P3.23 trillion of the 2023 national budget has been released to national agencies and local government units.
This leaves P2.033 trillion remaining to be distributed from the P5.268-trillion 2023 budget.
Meanwhile, government agencies’ cash utilization rate hit 86% at the end of February, the DBM said.
The National Government, local governments, and state-owned firms used 86% or P451.09 billion in Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs) issued to them in the first two months of the year. This left P76.37 billion in unused NCAs. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson