President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to waive interest charges on unpaid premium contributions, aiming to ease the financial burden on employers, local governments, and individual members with arrears.

Malacañang said the directive is intended to encourage the settlement of outstanding obligations without the added pressure of accumulated penalties, particularly for struggling sectors still recovering from economic disruptions. The move is also expected to improve overall compliance and boost PhilHealth’s collection efficiency.

Under the order, PhilHealth will issue guidelines covering the scope and duration of the interest waiver, as well as the process for availing of the relief. Employers and members with unpaid dues are urged to settle their obligations within the prescribed period to benefit from the measure.

The administration emphasized that while interest charges will be waived, the payment of principal contributions remains mandatory to ensure the sustainability of the national health insurance fund and uninterrupted healthcare benefits for members.