Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito renewed his call for increased government funding for mental-health programs after meeting with the Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH) to review ongoing initiatives and gaps in implementation.
The meeting coincided with World Kindness Day, a point the senator noted as he highlighted the rising mental-health concerns nationwide. Ejercito, principal author of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, said more Filipinos are seeking support but many remain unaware of the services already available to them.
At present, the government supports several mental-health programs, including consultations, access to maintenance medication, and 24/7 crisis hotlines under the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Some Department of Health hospitals and rural health units also provide free medicines and therapy sessions. The NCMH Crisis Hotline offers round-the-clock telemental services such as counseling, psychosocial support, and referrals.
Ejercito said these services reach only a fraction of the population due to low public awareness. “There are programs like hotline, free medicines and maintenance for mental health. But the problem is, the people do not know,” he said, adding that stronger information efforts and additional funding are needed to expand coverage.
He committed to advocating for higher allocations as the Senate continues its deliberations on the 2026 national budget. Ejercito said the goal is to ensure that mental-health support becomes more accessible through improved facilities, broader outreach, and sustained program funding.
The senator also referenced Senate Bill No. 1474, or the Anti-Online Hate and Harassment Bill—also known as the “Emman Atienza Bill”—which he recently filed. The measure aims to address cyberbullying, online defamation, and the spread of false information, particularly those affecting vulnerable groups such as minors.
