A proposal to adjust PhilHealth premium contributions is being reviewed as a potential sanction for individuals linked to preventable injuries, including parents of minors hurt by firecrackers and motorists cited for unsafe road behavior, according to the Department of Health.
Speaking on Dobol B TV on Saturday, Department of Health spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the idea is being examined as a behavioral check rather than a funding measure. He explained that the intent is to discourage parents from allowing children to use firecrackers and to push traffic offenders to follow safety rules.
“We will study it… especially what if the parent of the [firecracker] victim was an informal settler or jobless and is being subsidized by the government… We always say that don’t let your children use firecrackers but still it happens. So, we are looking into ways to deter this,” Domingo said.
Road safety was also raised as a key concern, with the DOH noting a spike in traffic-related injuries during the recent holidays. From December 21, 2025 to January 2, 2026, authorities recorded 1,113 road accidents, many involving riders without helmets or drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. The figure represents an 82 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier.
Domingo emphasized that coverage for those injured will not be withdrawn. He said PhilHealth will continue paying for treatment, particularly in DOH-managed hospitals where zero-balance billing applies, regardless of how the injury occurred.
“But there should be a way to charge them… that’s why we are looking into what other countries are doing, which is increasing insurance premiums,” he said, referring to individuals who violate safety laws.
The DOH earlier reported that more than a thousand people were injured in road crashes nationwide during the holiday period, prompting the agency to review policy options used in other countries as part of its ongoing assessment.
