Government hospitals in Cebu have begun enforcing zero balance billing for patients injured in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to ensure victims receive treatment at no cost.
The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu South Medical Center, and Eversley Medical Center immediately applied the policy, removing the need for patients or their families to seek financial clearance before leaving the hospital. Bills are automatically waived, in line with the national directive.
Malacañang has released augmentation funds to speed up the repair of damaged health facilities, while PhilHealth is preparing measures that could extend the same benefit to private hospitals if resources allow.
By Wednesday night, at least 78 patients had been admitted at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, while 35 more were transferred to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in Camp Lapu-Lapu to decongest Bogo Provincial Hospital.
Most injuries were minor, although critical cases were directed to larger hospitals.
Rapid assessments confirmed that Cebu’s major hospitals remained structurally sound, though nine rural health units and barangay health stations in northern Cebu towns sustained reported damage and remain under verification.
To reinforce local operations, the DOH has already delivered P1 million worth of medicines and medical supplies.
International support is also on standby. The World Health Organization (WHO) has received the government’s list of immediate needs and signaled that foreign partners are ready to mobilize aid.
Assistance will be coordinated to prevent overlap and ensure local systems remain in control of the response.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.