Hontiveros: Shift part of flood control funds to add 90K public hospital beds

“Pati pala sa mga hospital beds, kailangan ng catch up plan. It’s about time that Filipino patients stop competing for space and care,” she added during the committee hearing. (Pexels Photo)

By Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros is pushing for the realignment of a portion of the P255 billion flood control funds in the proposed 2026 budget to close the 90,375 bed capacity gap in public hospitals.

Hontiveros issued the call as the Department of Health (DOH) revealed that only 28,153 beds are actually available in public hospitals, when laws provide for up to 118,528 beds nationwide.

“Sobrang layo ng agwat! Imbes na ma-ghost na naman tayo sa flood control, mas mabuting ibigay na lang sa DOH ang pondo para mapaliit ang bed capacity gap. Tigilan na ang siksikan,” said Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

“Pati pala sa mga hospital beds, kailangan ng catch up plan. It’s about time that Filipino patients stop competing for space and care,” she added during the committee hearing.

Hontiveros hopes Congress can swiftly convert a portion of flood control funds into hospital capacity, pointing out that Malacañang had earlier included DOH programs in its “menu” of agencies that could benefit from realignment. Among those mentioned are Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), provision of medicines, and medical assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP).

“Malacañang has already cleared the path. Kailangang mag-materialize itong 90,000 hospital beds—kumpleto sa equipment at health workers. Hindi yan mangyayari kung hahayaan lang natin tangayin ang pera ng taumbayan sa baha ng korapsyon habang nagsisiksikan ang dalawang tao o higit pa sa iisang kama sa ospital,” she stressed.

Hontiveros committed that she will work with her fellow senators to boost funding in the 2026 budget for health reforms.

“We will work very closely together na patuloy na pondohan at higit na pondohan yung mga reporma sa kalusugan na patuloy na isusulong namin sa Senado,” Hontiveros said. “Sisiguraduhin ko na sulit ang buwis natin, kapalit ang serbisyong deserve nating lahat.”