Benguet Moves to Strengthen Health Financing, Improve Patient Care
News
The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), under its Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program (BMLGP), conducted a Technical Coaching session on Network Contracting Readiness and Special Health Fund (SHF) Optimization on February 18, 2026, at the Benguet Provincial Capitol. The session aimed to bolster Benguet’s readiness for network contracting and enhance health financing management under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
PhilHealth Senior Vice President Renato Limsiaco led the coaching session as the primary technical coach. Azariel Jediael Abrian and John Carlo Morillo supported the session, providing technical inputs on claims performance, network contracting mechanisms, and health financing strategies.
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Participants included Governor Melchor Diclas, representatives from the Benguet Provincial Health Office (PHO) led by Dr. Meliarazon Dulay, officials from the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) and the Provincial DOH Office (PDOHO) Benguet, the PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) Benguet, provincial finance teams, and health system stakeholders.
The session focused on preparing the province for network contracting under the UHC framework, strengthening claims management, and optimizing the Special Health Fund (SHF)—a financing pool that combines national and local resources to support an integrated provincial health system. Discussions emphasized the need to align governance, service delivery, and financial management across facilities to ensure effective implementation of the Provincial-wide Health System.
During the coaching session, PhilHealth representatives presented a claims performance analysis of Benguet hospitals from 2021 to 2025, revealing increasing service utilization and claims value across facilities. Participants discussed strategies to improve claims quality, reduce denied claims, and strengthen monitoring systems to ensure health financing effectively supports service delivery.
Another key discussion focused on the Special Health Fund (SHF) as a strategic financing mechanism for integrated local health systems. The SHF consolidates health financing streams to enable coordinated service delivery, improve procurement of medicines and equipment, and strengthen primary care across the province.
The coaching session concluded with key next steps for Benguet: finalizing the SHF manual, continuously monitoring claims performance, and conducting consultations with municipal partners to support the Provincial-wide Health System’s implementation.
In his message, Governor Melchor Diclas thanked ZFF, PhilHealth, and DOH for their technical support. He reaffirmed Benguet’s commitment to strengthening primary care and advancing health system reforms.
“We hope to begin full implementation this year for our primary care. This requires collaboration with each and every one of us,” the Governor said, noting the importance of continued partnership in moving the province’s health agenda forward.