MANILA – The debts of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the Philippine Red Cross for the conduct of COVID-19 swab tests have reached P800 million anew, said Sen. Richard Gordon.
“Ayaw ko sanang pinag uusapan ‘yan pero nasa P800 million na naman. ‘Di pwede kasi kung kelan lang nila gusto magbayad dahil lalaki nang lalaki. Baka mapilitan kami itigil dahil bibili pa kami ng gamit, tapos ime-maintain naman ang mga tao sa laboratoryo,” Gordon said in a radio interview.
“Siguro darating ‘yun sa Monday… nakikiusap [kami] sa kanila na mag-up-to-date sila dahil tutumba ang Red Cross dahil sa kanila,” added the senator, who also chairs the PRC.
Last October, the PRC temporary halted its testing of overseas Filipino workers, those arriving in seaports and airports and from mega swabbing facilities through local governments after PhilHealth failed to pay close to P1 billion.
It resumed operations after the state insurer paid the initial P500 million.
The PRC and PhilHealth previously agreed that the bill should be settled within three days upon receipt.
“Minsan lang nag-advance, ‘di na kami makatigil dahil marami ang dapat i-test at sa amin ipinadadala lahat,” Gordon said. “Kami ang nagte-test… OFW (overseas Filipino workers) okay lang naman sa akin basta ‘wag ilagay sa alanganin ang economic situation ng Red Cross.”/PN
