MANILA, Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he wants to ensure the public would get more access to quality healthcare with the implementation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) premium rate hike for this year.

This, pending his final decision on the appeal made by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to defer the increase in members' contributions.

"It's all cost-benefit. If we increase, for example, we are talking about the increase of contribution to PhilHealth from 4 percent to 5 percent, I would tell them to show me the other side of that. What will be the increase in services, what will you be able to cover, what more will you be able to cover?" Marcos said in a mix of English and Filipino in his interview with Integrated News' '24 Oras.'

'It's very hard to quantify health. How much is it worth to you? It's worth different things to different people," he added.

Herbosa had sent a letter to the President requesting him to delay the implementation of the rate increase, claiming that the raise would not have a significant impact on PhilHealth's cash flow.

Malacañang responded that "the President is studying the request."

The increase is in accordance with the Universal Health Care (UHC), enacted in 2019 by then president Rodrigo Duterte, with the law mandating that the PhilHealth contribution rate be increased to 5 percent by 2024.

An increase of 4.5 percent was supposed to be implemented last year, but Marcos ordered its suspension, as well as the income ceiling hike, because members were still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.