By Dr. Tony Leachon 

Mr. President,

Last year, in your fourth State of the Nation Address, you stood before the Filipino people at the Batasang Pambansa and spoke in Tagalog to make your message more accessible. You acknowledged public dissatisfaction, promised faster services, and highlighted economic gains. Yet, one year later, the nation still waits for a true scorecard. Mahiya naman kayo.

The corruption in flood control programs remains unresolved. The Secretary of Health was removed just two weeks ago, leaving a vacuum in leadership at a time when healthcare should be the cornerstone of governance. And most painfully, in 2025, PhilHealth received zero subsidy after Executive Secretary Ralph Recto led the unconstitutional transfer of ₱60 billion to unprogrammed appropriations. This betrayal of the people’s trust has left our healthcare system gasping for air.

Mr. President, the middle class has become the new poor. One catastrophic illness—cancer, stroke, dialysis—can plunge a family into poverty. Meanwhile, the poor are given endless Ayuda, fostering a mendicant mentality instead of empowerment. Worse, the MAIFIP ₱53 billion allocation last year violated the Universal Health Care law, which mandates PhilHealth as the single payor.

Healthcare is not charity. It is justice. It is dignity. It is the foundation of a nation’s strength.

We ask you now, at the dawn of your fifth SONA, to make healthcare the centerpiece of your legacy. Restore PhilHealth’s rightful funding—₱600 billion—to increase case rates, reduce out-of-pocket expenses, and finally realize the promise of Universal Health Care. Invest in our healthcare workers, who carry the nation’s burdens daily. Remove programs that perpetuate dependency, and instead build systems that uplift.

Mr. President, history will not remember the speeches, but the lives saved. The Filipino people deserve a healthcare system that protects them from poverty, that honors their dignity, and that extends their lifespan from 70 to 85 years.

This is your moment to lead with humility, courage, and vision. Let your SONA be not just words, but a turning point for the nation’s health.

Respectfully,
Dr. Tony Leachon