By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan delivers the 2026 Ulat sa Lalawigan, highlighting gains in healthcare...
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| Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan delivers the 2026 Ulat sa Lalawigan, highlighting gains in healthcare, education, livelihood, infrastructure and other provincial programs. (Doktora Helen Tan) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Quezon is nearing full No Balance Billing coverage across its provincial hospitals, with Governor Angelina “Helen” Tan reporting that nearly all qualified inpatients are receiving care without direct hospital charges. Tan cited the coverage during her 2026 State of the Province Address as part of a wider health program involving hospital improvements, patient referrals, financial assistance and community-based services.
From January to June 2026, 43,415 inpatients were processed under No Balance Billing after 40,712 patients received hospital services without payment in 2025. Tan said nearly 100 percent of qualified inpatients across hospitals under the Quezon Provincial Hospital Network paid no hospital charges under the policy during the first half of the year.
The province has expanded hospital facilities, medical equipment, referral and navigation services, telemedicine, medical missions and satellite offices across Quezon. More than 6,000 Quezonians were also admitted to public and private hospitals inside and outside the province from January to June through the provincial referral network.
Tan said No Balance Billing was among the major steps taken across provincial hospitals to reduce the cost of treatment for patients. She cited the number of beneficiaries in 2025 before reporting the further increase during the first six months of 2026.
“Sa taong 2025, 40,712 sa ating mga in-patients ang nakatanggap ng serbisyong medikal na walang anumang binayaran. Ito ay patunay na sa ating liderato, ang kalusugan ay hindi dapat maging pribilehiyo lamang ng may kakayahang magbayad, kundi isang serbisyong dapat maranasan ng bawat Quezonian,” Tan said.
Quezon Free Service, or QFS, supplements the policy by paying expenses that cannot be fully covered by PhilHealth, national government funding or other health-financing sources. The provincial government reported about P900 million worth of free services provided through QFS since the intervention began.
Tan said the program was intended to prevent gaps in available financing from interrupting medical services needed by qualified patients. She reported the cumulative value of QFS while discussing the cost of maintaining free hospital care.
“Simula ng ating umpisahan ang QFS, nasa 900 milyon na halaga ng serbisyo ang binigay natin ng libre sa ating mga kalalawigan. Ang lahat ng ating aksyon ay nakaangkla sa paniniwalang ang kalusugan ang pundasyon ng pag-asa at mas matatag na kinabukasan ng Quezon,” she added.
A 24-hour referral system is supported by Quezon Telemedicine, Provincial Health Navigators, ambulances, sea ambulances and satellite offices across the province’s four districts. The network provides help with referrals, transportation, medicines, financial assistance, diagnostic procedures and other services, including support for residents in remote and island communities.
Health gains were also reported in nutrition, with lower prevalence rates of stunting, underweight and wasting among children from 2022 to 2025. Operation Timbang Plus reached 74.2 percent coverage in 2025, while Quezon received its third Green Banner Seal of Compliance and recognition as a consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition.
Tan credited the results to provincial nutrition programs carried out with municipal and barangay personnel across communities in Quezon. The interventions included fortified food, micronutrient supplements, monitoring equipment and capacity-building for local nutrition workers.
“Bungan ng ating kolektibong pagsisikap na maiangat ang kalidad ng nutrisyon sa lalawigan, matagumpay na nakamit ng Quezon Province ang ikatlong Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award na naging susi upang itanghal na consistent Regional Outstanding Winner for Nutrition Awardee ang lalawigan ng Quezon,” Tan said.
Beyond health, the provincial government reported expanded college assistance, professional scholarships and efforts to bring additional state educational institutions to Quezon. It is coordinating with the Department of Science and Technology over a possible second Philippine Science High School campus in CALABARZON and is also pursuing another Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus.
STAN-C provided regular assistance to 7,000 college students during its first year, with qualified beneficiaries receiving P5,000 per semester until graduation. The Priority Courses Scholarship and Return of Service Program supports 34 undergraduate scholars and 33 medical students, with return service aimed at filling shortages of professionals in underserved communities.
Tan said the scholarships were designed for students whose families lack the financial means to sustain a college education. She said provincial assistance was intended to give financially disadvantaged students a better chance of completing their studies.
“Mga kalalawigan, ang ating mga scholars ay nagmula pa po sa mga pamilyang tunay na salat sa pinansyal na kakayahan. Mga kabataang may mataas na pangarap, ngunit hindi makaalpas sa bisig ng kahirapan,” she said.
Livelihood programs reached more than 22,000 participants from underserved sectors, including persons with disabilities, solo parents, senior citizens, MSMEs, students, out-of-school youth and indigenous people. Since 2025, 43 accredited partner employers have offered about 4,000 vacancies, while 1,710 of 2,268 registered job seekers were identified for wage employment, resulting in a reported 75.39-percent placement rate.
Tan said livelihood assistance should build the ability of beneficiaries to earn rather than leave them dependent on repeated government aid. Skills training, employment referrals and entrepreneurship programs were used to connect residents with jobs and other income opportunities.
“Ang ating mga programa ay hindi lamang nakatuon sa pagbibigay ng tulong o ayuda. Higit sa lahat, layunin nating lumikha ng mga oportunidad, linangin ang kakayahan ng ating mga kalalawigan at bigyan sila ng mga kasanayan at kaalamang magbibigay sa kanila ng lakas upang malambasan ang mga hamon sa buhay,” Tan said.
Infrastructure spending covered hospitals, schools, roads, bridges, water systems and other public facilities, with improvements reported across all 15 hospitals under the provincial network. School buildings, farm-to-market roads and water systems were among completed projects already being used by communities.
Tan said the value of completed projects should be reflected in the benefits reaching residents, particularly students and farmers. She cited classrooms and agricultural roads among infrastructure already serving communities.
“Kita naman natin na nagagamit na ng mga mag-aaral ang mga silid-aralan at iba pang gusaling pampa-aralan na ating ipinatayo noong nakaraang taon. Napapakinabangan na rin ng iba’t ibang barangay, lalo’t higit ng mga magsasaka, ang mga farm-to-market roads na sinikap nating kumpletuhin,” she added.
Disaster preparedness measures included 29 smart surveillance monitoring systems in 22 municipalities, 12 automated weather stations and communication equipment in 13 barangays in island municipalities. The provincial government also passed an ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit and reported 450 appointments to permanent positions across departments and hospitals.
Near-full No Balance Billing coverage remains one of the clearest measures of Quezon’s effort to reduce the direct cost of hospitalization for qualified patients. Sustaining it will depend on continued financing, hospital capacity and health services capable of reaching residents across mainland, remote and island communities.
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