MANILA – Admitting that he lacks expertise in public health, newly-appointed Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president and CEO Dante Gierran said he is willing to consult with the experts in the field.
Gierran, a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director, said he is willing to learn from his new assignment and is considering consulting former PhilHealth head Ricardo Morales.
“I admit, ano bang alam ko sa public health? Of course, aaralin ko ‘yan… aaralin ko ‘yan, ‘di ko alam eh. Alangan naman sabihin ko na alam ko na ‘di ko alam,” he said over at the Laging Handa virtual press briefing.
“I’ll have to talk to experts, I’ll have to refer to the experts to give me inputs. We don’t have the monopoly of wisdom. Just like other people need me, I also need them,” Gierran added.
Gierran, who is a lawyer, certified public accountant, and a longtime NBI investigator, was said to be not qualified for the top PhilHealth post after he admitted about his lack of health expertise.
However, Malacañang and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra have defended his appointment, saying his legal, accounting and administrative abilities make him fit for the position.
“Sigurado ‘yan, kakayanin. Kakayanin ko talaga ‘yan,” Gierran said. “Ako mismo, I offer myself. I’m already a senior citizen, wala na akong ibang gagawin pa kundi ibalik sa komunidad ang whatever benefits that I have right now not only for Filipinos but a sense of Christian living.”/PN
