Approved by the BOI in 2025, the CyberKnife project underscores the agency’s strategy of promoting transformative investments that expand access to advanced, high-quality healthcare while strengthening the country’s medical capabilities.

BOI Executive Director for Investment Promotion Services Evariste M. Cagatan emphasized the project’s broader economic and social value.

“This is exactly the type of investment the BOI seeks to nurture—strategic, life-changing, and impactful. By supporting CyberKnife through fiscal incentives, we are helping bring world-class cancer treatment closer to Filipinos who previously had to go abroad,” she said.

Operated by AHMC’s Asian Cancer Institute (ACI), the facility uses a non-invasive, AI-guided platform that enables most patients to complete treatment in one to five sessions, often returning home the same day—significantly reducing both cost and disruption.

For ACI Executive Director Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, the milestone reflects both medical progress and improved patient access.

“Reaching over 100 CyberKnife patients means more Filipinos now have access to precise, less invasive cancer treatment right here at home. What was once only available overseas is now within reach,” she said.

Government-backed incentives have also played a critical role in improving affordability. By lowering operational costs, BOI support has enabled ACI to expand collaboration with PhilHealth, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other assistance programs.

Among the first 100 patients, all were covered by PhilHealth with varying levels of out-of-pocket expenses, while a portion received additional government medical assistance. Cases treated included both primary tumors—such as brain, liver, pancreas, lung, prostate, and head and neck—and metastatic lesions affecting the brain, spine, and lungs. Despite the complexity, CyberKnife demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in over 70% of cases.

AHMC President and CEO Dr. Beaver Tamesis said the milestone validates the hospital’s investment decision.

“Introducing CyberKnife to the Philippines required both vision and conviction that Filipinos deserve the best cancer care. Reaching 100 patients confirms that this was the right investment—not just for our institution, but for the country,” he said.

CyberKnife is a real-time, image-guided radiation system capable of delivering highly targeted treatment with sub-millimeter accuracy in as little as 15 to 20 minutes. As the only system of its kind in the Philippines, it offers a non-surgical option that minimizes damage to healthy tissue and allows patients to resume normal activities shortly after treatment.

The project highlights how targeted government incentives can catalyze private sector investments in frontier healthcare technologies—positioning the Philippines as an emerging destination for advanced medical services while improving outcomes for Filipino patients.

The new centers aim to make high-quality cancer care more accessible to Kapampangans by providing free chemotherapy services covered by PhilHealth, along with oncologist consultations and patient education programs. Designed as safe and welcoming spaces, the facilities emphasize holistic care — addressing patients’ physical, emotional, and social needs throughout their treatment journey.

The expansion marks a major step in We Hope Medical Group’s mission to bring patient-focused, affordable, and reliable healthcare closer to Filipino families.

“Beacon of Hope represents our commitment to uplifting communities through accessible and dignified healthcare,” said Dr. John Paul Aclan, Chairman and CEO of We Hope Medical Group. “By opening branches in San Fernando and Guagua, we are strengthening our promise to support healthier futures for Kapampangans.”

Each facility is staffed by licensed medical professionals trained to deliver care grounded in empath

On 22 January 2026, Japanese Ambassador ENDO Kazuya signed and exchanged notes with International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission Tristan Burnett for the project “Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Services for Internally Displaced Persons on the Remote Islands of Conflict-Affected Areas.”

The ceremony was attended by officials from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Ministry of Health, the Department of Health, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Government of Japan will provide a grant of ¥516 million to upgrade health facilities and provide maternal, newborn, and child health equipment compliant with Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) and PhilHealth standards. The project also includes training and technical assistance to help facilities achieve and maintain accreditation.

Dubbed REACH BASULTA (Resilient and Equitable Access to Care and Health in BASULTA), the initiative addresses gaps in facility readiness, workforce capacity, and community awareness, with a focus on displaced and mobile populations. It also supports culturally sensitive health promotion campaigns and PhilHealth registration drives to expand access to quality care.

Ambassador Endo said the project underscores Japan’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive health system where mothers and children can access essential services.

DepEd Secretary Sonny M. Angara, principal author of the National Vision Screening Act, highlighted the critical role of early intervention.

“Preventive healthcare must begin as early as possible, and vision screening ensures that no child is left behind simply because of an undetected eye condition. This initiative reflects our commitment to Universal Health Care and to President Marcos Jr.’s education agenda, linking health and education as twin priorities. By detecting vision problems early, we give our learners the best chance to succeed in school and beyond.”

Dr. Charlie L. Ho, IPAO National President, emphasized the urgency of addressing eye health globally.

“Clear vision is the gateway to effective learning. The World Health Organization projects that by 2050, the number of people needing eye care will dramatically increase, with billions already living with vision impairment today. If we do not act decisively, this crisis will affect generations. Through NVSP, we are taking proactive steps to ensure Filipino children are not part of that alarming statistic.”

Anchored on Republic Act 11358, NVSP is a cornerstone of DepEd’s preventive health strategy, reinforcing that healthy learners are better learners. The program covers, Mandatory vision screening for all kindergarten learners, and Provision of prescription eyeglasses to selected children.

Expanded access to professional eye care through IPAO’s nationwide network

The initiative is supported by PhilHealth’s Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (Yakap), reflecting the government’s commitment to preventive healthcare under the Universal Health Care agenda.

Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, PhilHealth President, said, “We launched the PhilHealth Optometric Benefit Package to provide children aged zero to 15 access to vision screening and prescription eyeglasses. These benefits give every Filipino child an opportunity to learn, gain self-confidence, and achieve a better future. Our goal is to ensure learners’ well-being by strengthening primary healthcare, preventing visual impairments and permanent blindness, and assuring a better quality of life.”

Dr. Ho added that RA 11358 complements PhilHealth’s Optometric Benefit Package, which currently provides free prescription eyeglasses for learners from kindergarten to Grade 10 with refractive errors. IPAO is advocating for coverage to extend up to Grade 12.

“We will support DepEd’s vision screening through the school division offices. This benefit supplements PhilHealth’s Optometry Benefit Package, and our partnership with DepEd would not be possible without the support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Secretary Angara, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, and PhilHealth President Dr. Mercado,” Dr. Ho said.

With NVSP, the Philippines takes a significant step toward ensuring every learner can see clearly and learn effectively, laying the foundation for a brighter future.

In partnership with the German Embassy in Manila and Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, the event explored how German healthcare technology and expertise can help strengthen the Philippines’ stroke care system, particularly through better prevention, early intervention, and long-term patient support. The initiative also underscored the importance of international collaboration in building a more resilient and equitable national health framework.

Mathias Kruse, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Manila, highlighted the significance of such cooperation. “Creating integrated, whole-of-society approaches is key to strengthening stroke care implementation in the Philippines,” he said.

Government officials emphasized aligning the National Stroke Policy Framework with the Universal Health Care Act to ensure that innovative solutions and new technologies are accessible to Filipinos across all regions.

Dr. Cristina Macrohon-Valdez, president of the Stroke Society of the Philippines, underscored the value of sustained support for stroke care programs. “Support—whether through financial aid, training, or partnerships—is vital to enhance programs and services for stroke patients,” she said, noting ongoing efforts to expand training and strengthen the Hub and Spoke Model for regional stroke centers.

From the private sector, Dr. Giovanni Paolo Nazario, medical advisor at Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, stressed that collaboration and innovation must go hand-in-hand. “By aligning initiatives and leveraging technology, we can build a stroke care ecosystem that is inclusive, resilient, and future-ready,” he said.

PhilHealth officials Suzette Ann Sarmiento and Atty. Exequiel Sy shared updates on expanding financial benefits for stroke patients beyond Metro Manila. “PhilHealth continues to collaborate with healthcare partners to reach more communities in the provinces,” Atty. Sy added.

Patient advocate Karen Alparce-Villanueva of the Philippine Alliance for Patient Organizations (PAPO) called for compassionate and equitable healthcare. “We have the tools and the knowledge—what we need now is the will to act together with purpose and compassion,” she said.

Participants agreed that merging German innovation with local healthcare expertise and policy can significantly improve the quality and accessibility of stroke care in the Philippines.

“Stroke care is multidisciplinary, and today’s collaboration moves us closer to quality, patient-centered care,” said Dr. Lennie Lynn Chua-De Castillo of the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital in her closing remarks.

Grab Philippines and MOVE IT, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), have officially launched the Asenso Center, the first livelihood hub of its kind in the country and Grab’s Southeast Asia network.

The one-hectare facility is designed to professionalize the onboarding of platform workers and entrepreneurs, accelerate AI-driven income opportunities, and streamline access to social protection programs such as SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. It also provides microinsurance and welfare coverage through Chubb and AXA, offering a holistic support ecosystem for digital workers.

Grab Philippines Country Managing Director Ronald Roda said the Asenso Center transforms the company’s on-ground insights into tangible empowerment.

“Grab is one of the Philippines’ most mature platform work ecosystems, giving us a ground level understanding of what Filipino platform workers and micro-entrepreneurs truly need to thrive,” Roda said. “The Asenso Center opens dignified, digitally powered livelihoods, equips our partners with practical AI copilots, and helps families convert opportunity into income at scale.”

Meanwhile, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda underscored the vital role of the gig economy in improving the lives of Filipino families, calling Grab and MOVE IT partners the “frontline of the digital economy.”

“In every trip you take, there’s a child who gets to eat, tuition that gets paid, and medical bills that are settled, that’s what real change looks like,” Aguda remarked. “You are the frontline of the digital economy.”

Aguda also emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in achieving the DICT’s vision of creating millions of digital livelihoods across the country.

Apart from this, Secretary Aguda made a notable suggestion by encouraging Grab Philippines to consider going public through an initial public offering (IPO), emphasizing that such a move would open more avenues for Filipinos to invest and co-own a company that directly empowers people through job creation and inclusive participation in the gig economy.

“An IPO for Grab Philippines would allow the public to take part in its success story,” Aguda said. “It’s a chance for ordinary Filipinos to invest in a company that not only drives innovation but also transforms lives by creating sustainable digital livelihoods.”

A Flagship for Professionalized AI Driven Livelihoods

The Asenso Center supports Grab’s commitment to create 500,000 livelihood opportunities under its partnership with the national government. The company has already reached 73 percent of its five-year goal and is on track to exceed the target ahead of schedule.

Merchant participation is also on the rise, with the number of Community Merchants increasing by 30 percent year on year as more local MSMEs formalize their businesses online.

The facility integrates AI enablement into partner development through mobile-first tools such as the Merchant AI Assistant and AI Driver Companion, both designed to help partners work more efficiently and responsibly.

“Used responsibly, AI becomes a force multiplier — an exponent on every hour of work online,” Roda explained. “Our goal is to make enterprise-grade tools accessible through a smartphone, raise standards of safety and service, and broaden participation in the growing AI economy.”

Among those using the Merchant AI Assistant is Marvin Catimbang, Chief Operating Officer of Coffee Blanc and a GrabFood 5-Star Eats Merchant Partner, who said the tool automates daily tasks and helps analyze consumer insights critical to business growth.

Viable Earnings and Accessible Protection

Grab said platform productivity is structured so that active partners working at least eight hours a day can achieve family-sustaining income levels with many surpassing this threshold depending on demand, service type, and time of day.

MOVE IT rider partner and community leader Nica “Khang” Brieta shared how her earnings have supported her education and family.

“Dahil po sa kita ko sa MOVE IT, napag-aral ko po ang aking sarili pati ang aking kapatid. Nasisiguro ko rin na natutustusan ko ang medikal na pangangailangan ng aking anak. Sa MOVE IT, empowered kaming mga kababaihan na makipagsabayan sa kalsada para kumita nang patas para sa aming mga pamilya.”

For his part, MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto emphasized that professionalization and protection must go hand in hand.

“From safety training and service standards to modular benefits and on-trip coverage, the Asenso Center helps driver partners build sustainable, future proof livelihoods,” he said.

The Asenso Center also integrates social protection enrollment directly into its onboarding process, enabling partners to register for SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth while opting for private insurance coverage. For top performing partners, Grab and MOVE IT subsidize Pag-IBIG contributions and provide free life insurance in addition to standard on-trip protection.

Grab’s responsible AI framework follows four guiding principles: improve safety, protect privacy, keep people in control, and make learning simple — reinforcing its commitment to ethical innovation.

“AI should reward effort, not replace it,” Roda concluded. “Our role is to lower the barrier to entry into the AI economy, protect user trust, and ensure that Filipino workers and MSMEs capture the full benefit of digital transformation.”

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said the delay was to allow for a “rigorous and exhaustive review” of the budget measure.

“The ongoing assessment is being led by the President himself, in consultation with the heads of major departments,” Bersamin said.

While a new signing date has yet to be announced, the Executive Secretary confirmed that certain items and provisions of the national budget bill would be vetoed.

The veto, Bersamin said, would be in the “interest of public welfare, to conform with the fiscal program, and in compliance with laws.”

The postponement comes amid mounting concerns over the bicameral version of the national budget, which critics claim prioritizes unprogrammed funds at the expense of critical social programs.

One of the most vocal critics, Senator Risa Hontiveros, explained her “No” vote on the Bicameral Conference Committee Report for the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

In her privilege speech Monday (Dec. 16), Hontiveros cited drastic cuts to essential programs such as health, education, and social protection.

“I voted ‘Yes’ to the Senate version of the 2025 national budget because I was confident that this budget would provide sufficient funding for our most critical and life-saving programs. However, the bicam version of the national budget is deeply concerning because it drastically reduces funding for essential sectors like public health and education,” Hontiveros said.

One of the most alarming changes, she noted, was the “zero state subsidy” for PhilHealth in 2025.

Hontiveros described this move as inconsistent with current laws, particularly the Universal Health Care Act and the Sin Tax Reform Act, which mandate annual premium subsidies for indirect contributors and allocations for the National Health Insurance Program.

“Instead of abandoning our responsibility to millions of indirect contributors – including poor families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals – we should focus on replacing the incompetent management,” she said.

Hontiveros further warned that eliminating the subsidy could force PhilHealth to operate at a net loss, compromising its ability to deliver benefits and financial protection to millions of Filipinos.

The senator also expressed concern over massive budget cuts to health and education programs, including a P37.59 billion reduction to the Department of Health’s (DOH) budget and significant losses for the Department of Education (P15.17 billion) and the Commission on Higher Education (P11.77 billion). She underscored the gravity of these cuts amid an ongoing learning crisis and a post-pandemic recovery period.

Similarly, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) saw a P50 billion reduction, while 41 foreign-assisted projects were delisted, defunded, and relegated to the unprogrammed funds category without transparency.

“It’s incredibly ironic that while slashing funding for essential programs like health, social protection, and education, the bicam version simultaneously expands unprogrammed funds to P531.6 billion, higher by P373 billion compared to the NEP [National Expenditure Program]. This raises serious questions about the purpose of these unprogrammed funds and their potential for misuse,” Hontiveros added.

The senator concluded her explanation of her vote by stressing that the bicam version of the 2025 GAB reflects “misplaced priorities at the expense of our people’s health and our children’s education.”

“For these reasons, I cannot, in good conscience, vote to ratify this version of our national budget,” she said.

Over a hundred informal workers in Siargao have registered at a One-stop services, gaining access to social protection, livelihood support, and employment opportunities.

The ILO and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have partnered with Lokal Lab at the Tinabangay (helping together in the local dialect) to hold a One-stop service registration held on 29-30 November 2024 in General Luna, the tourism hub.

The initiative assisted hundreds of informal workers in the agro-fishery, tourism, digital freelance, and micro and small enterprise sectors under the ILO’s Rise from multiple crises through the integrated formalization of informal economy and Rebuilding Better Coconut Economy projects.

Siargao, a famous surfing destination, relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. However, farmers, fishers and tourism operators become increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Stronger typhoons and environmental shocks have pushed many into poverty, worsened by limited access to social protection.

“We provide an integrated and streamlined social protection registration to support farmers, fishers, tourism and informal economy workers. As a one-stop seamless process, they are not just prepared but also protected against economic shocks and climate change,” said Linartes Viloria, ILO National Project Coordinator.

The ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26 highlights how social protection helps people adapt and cope with climate shocks by providing income security and healthcare access. It also serves as cushion for families, workers and businesses during the green transition, promoting sustainable economic practices.

The DOLE has extended livelihood support to disadvantaged and displaced workers through its TUPAD program. This community-based safety net initiative provides temporary employment to workers in the informal economy.

“We are committed to supporting the transition of informal economy workers to the formal sector. Through this, we bring livelihood support and extend social protection and employment services directly and reach those vulnerable to climate change,” said DOLE Caraga Regional Director Atty. Joffrey Suyao.

Featuring the ILO’s Single window service model, the One-stop Island Services brought together the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and local governments in providing registration services and information sessions.

Siargao has been identified in labor inspections as an area needing improvement in social protection compliance, with many workers lacking the necessary registration and understanding of its importance.

The initiative aims to build a more resilient and inclusive island by educating workers on the importance and benefits of social protection. This is in addition to providing a comprehensive and integrated approach for entrepreneurship and employment facilitation.

This initiative, supported by the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA) with contributions from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Spain, aims to promote decent work and extend social protection.

This comes after the Supreme Court recently issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the transfer of the remaining PhilHealth funds to the national treasury amounting to P29.9 billion scheduled in November 2024.

“We urge the Senate, during its upcoming plenary deliberations on the 2025 budget, to intensely scrutinize the 2025 budget allocation for PhilHealth, question the budget cuts, and prevent another raid in the PhilHealth fund that primarily impacts the most vulnerable Filipinos,” said SWP co-convenor Maria Victoria Raquiza. 

In a media release, SWP and ABI said Senate should question the raid of PhilHealth funds, and the recent trend of reducing the annual budget allocation for the PhilHealth premium contributions of the indirect contributors.

They noted that the law provides that revenues from the taxes on tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverage products explicitly earmarked for PhilHealth fund the premium contributions of indirect contributors.

Indirect PhilHealth contributors are those identified as indigents by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Sangguniang Kabataan Officials, Filipinos aged 21 years old and above without capacity to pay premiums.

SWP and ABI pointed out that the 2024 GAA allocated only P62 billion out of the P102 billion proposal of PhilHealth, or a budget reduction of P40 billion.

Furthermore, they said, the 2025 proposed national budget, the National Expenditure Program (NEP), shows that PhilHealth only gets an allocation of P74.4 billion, or below the PhilHealth allocation for the year 2022 and 2023, which were at P80 billion and P100.2 billion, respectively.

The group also welcomed the Supreme Court’s action on the fund transfer “and for recognizing the  irreparable damage of this raid of PhiHealth funds on the Filipino people’s rights.”

On the petitions filed against the transfer of funds, SWP and ABI hope that the Supreme Court will arrive at a decision in favor of the Filipino people’s interest that will lead to the return of the P60 billion funds already remitted to the National Treasury, and stop further raids of the PhilHealth funds.

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for the petitions filed by Senator Koko Pimentel, Bayan Muna, and others on January 14, 2025.

These petitions challenge the issuance of the Department of Finance (DOF) Circular 003-2024, implementing the additional provisions inserted under the Special Provision of the 2024 General Appropriation Act (GAA) that allowed the government to utilize the excess funds of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) for the Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA).

In August 2024, before the second tranche of the fund transfer, SWP led a signature campaign which garnered around 3,000 signatures of individuals and organizations calling for President Marcos to immediately order the return of the portion of PhilHealth’s P89.9-billion funds that was already remitted to the Bureau of Treasury and prevent further transfer of the remaining funds.