Independent health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and listen to the people’s plea to prioritize the health of the Filipino people.
"Mr. President, choose the path of compassion, integrity, and justice. Rewrite your legacy by leading with courage and putting healthcare where it belongs — at the forefront of this nation’s priorities," Leachon said in a statement on Sunday.
"Do it for the sick. Do it for the poor. Do it for the millions of Filipinos who trusted that their government would not abandon them," he added.
Leachon stated that President Marcos Jr. is "at a crossroads," and his decision on the budget will shape the direction of his presidency
He also urged the President to demonstrate to the Filipino people that he is a leader who prioritizes life over luxury and is attuned to the struggles of the suffering.
This appeal came in response to the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which, if passed as is, would include the diversion of 90 billion pesos in PhilHealth funds and the absence of healthcare subsidies.
The removal of PhilHealth’s subsidy was attributed to the agency's lapses, with senators highlighting the controversial transfer of P89.9 billion in excess funds to the national treasury.
Leachon emphasized that the Filipinos suffering from a "neglected" healthcare system are real individuals crying out for help, dignity, and hope.
"While they endure sleepless nights, skipping meals to make ends meet, the government is poised to deprioritize healthcare in favor of unprogrammed appropriations and the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP)," said Leachon.
"When your administration diverted 90 billion from PhilHealth to unprogrammed appropriations, you signaled that healthcare is not a priority. When the government allocated zero subsidy for healthcare in 2025, you placed millions of Filipinos at risk, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. When the cries for support from those who depend on the Universal Health Care Law were met with silence, you betrayed the promise of a healthcare system that is meant to be universal, accessible, and equitable," he added.
The health advocate emphasized that the issue is no longer about politics, but about Filipino lives—patients sharing beds in government hospitals due to lack of funding, and thousands who die from preventable causes each year because of insufficient medicine, doctors, and a failing healthcare system.
