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Advocates Philippines
Magalong Pushes Back On DOH Claim; Says Guarantee Letters Still Needed In Baguio Hospitals
Photo credit: Benjie Magalong
Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong has spoken out to clarify what he says is the real situation on the ground, following the Department of Health’s assertion that guarantee letters are no longer needed in DOH-run hospitals.
In a statement dated January 10, 2026, Magalong said it is important to correct the impression created by Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa’s remarks, stressing that in Baguio, guarantee letters remain essential for patients who cannot afford hospital expenses. According to the mayor, the Baguio City government—not the DOH—has long been responsible for assisting patients at the Baguio General Hospital through the issuance of guarantee letters.
Magalong emphasized that the city government keeps complete records of all guarantee letters it issues, noting that these are used to help indigent patients access medical care. He added that denying this reality only masks the deeper problems faced by the country’s healthcare system. For Magalong, acknowledging the actual situation inside hospitals is necessary to address long-standing gaps in public health services.
His statement came in response to remarks made by DOH Secretary Herbosa during a Malacañang press briefing, where the health chief clarified that it is not government policy to use guarantee letters issued by politicians in DOH-run hospitals. Herbosa thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the continued full implementation of the zero balance billing program, saying patients no longer need to seek help from lawmakers or political figures to pay hospital bills.
“The DOH does not use guarantee letters,” Herbosa said, explaining that such letters are only issued to private hospitals with an existing memorandum of agreement with the department. He added that if a politician or private individual issues a guarantee letter, that person—not the government—should shoulder the cost.
Herbosa also assured the public that the zero balance billing policy, in effect since July 2025, is fully funded and allows patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in DOH hospitals to receive care without paying out of pocket.
But for Magalong, the issue goes beyond policy statements. He maintained that serious challenges remain in the country’s healthcare system and urged officials to confront the realities faced by patients and hospitals daily, saying real solutions can only come from an honest assessment of conditions on the ground.
In a statement dated January 10, 2026, Magalong said it is important to correct the impression created by Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa’s remarks, stressing that in Baguio, guarantee letters remain essential for patients who cannot afford hospital expenses. According to the mayor, the Baguio City government—not the DOH—has long been responsible for assisting patients at the Baguio General Hospital through the issuance of guarantee letters.
Magalong emphasized that the city government keeps complete records of all guarantee letters it issues, noting that these are used to help indigent patients access medical care. He added that denying this reality only masks the deeper problems faced by the country’s healthcare system. For Magalong, acknowledging the actual situation inside hospitals is necessary to address long-standing gaps in public health services.
His statement came in response to remarks made by DOH Secretary Herbosa during a Malacañang press briefing, where the health chief clarified that it is not government policy to use guarantee letters issued by politicians in DOH-run hospitals. Herbosa thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the continued full implementation of the zero balance billing program, saying patients no longer need to seek help from lawmakers or political figures to pay hospital bills.
“The DOH does not use guarantee letters,” Herbosa said, explaining that such letters are only issued to private hospitals with an existing memorandum of agreement with the department. He added that if a politician or private individual issues a guarantee letter, that person—not the government—should shoulder the cost.
Herbosa also assured the public that the zero balance billing policy, in effect since July 2025, is fully funded and allows patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in DOH hospitals to receive care without paying out of pocket.
But for Magalong, the issue goes beyond policy statements. He maintained that serious challenges remain in the country’s healthcare system and urged officials to confront the realities faced by patients and hospitals daily, saying real solutions can only come from an honest assessment of conditions on the ground.
Jan 12, 2026
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