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MANILA, Philippines – Half of the debt of more than 930 million pesos to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will be paid this week or next, Malacañang said Wednesday.
According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the 50% payment is already a “substantial” portion considering that PhilHealth’s past due debt costs almost P1 billion.
“The president has already committed to PhilHealth that it will be paid, so I think it will be paid, if not this week, then next week at the earliest,” Roque said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ The Source.
He stressed that the humanitarian organization, which has played a key role in testing the country for COVID-19, cannot continue to operate unless it meets its cash requirements.
“And that’s why we give the highest priority to the liquidation of at least 50%,” said Roque.
“Because it is in the interest of both the Red Cross and the country that we continue with our PCR tests, since the Red Cross is responsible for 25% of all our tests,” he added.
When asked if the People’s Republic of China accepted the 50% down payment agreement, Roque said: “I think they did.”
Since October 16, the People’s Republic of China stopped testing Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW), passengers at airports and seaports, individuals requesting tests for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at swab facilities government, frontline health and government workers, and others included in the Department of Health’s expanded testing guidelines. The People’s Republic of China is charging PhilHealth P3,500 for each coronavirus test.
The organization said these services cannot be resumed until PhilHealth pays its past due balance of P930.99 million.
READ: Red Cross stops testing on PhilHealth debt
In a recorded speech broadcast Monday night, Duterte assured that the government will pay PhilHealth’s debt to the organization.
“Don’t worry, we will pay, it will take time but we will pay. We will look for the money… Alam ko na itong bayad na ito, babayaran to in no time. Don’t worry, ”Duterte said.
According to Roque, Duterte’s guarantee should be sufficient for the People’s Republic of China to continue its coronavirus testing services.
READ: Palace: PRC COVID testing must continue as Duterte vows to pay off PhilHealth debt
“With the commitment to pay no less than the president last Monday, I think Senator Gordon should no longer have any doubt that it will be paid. And I think that security should be enough for the Red Cross to resume its tests, “he said.
Gordon is the President of the People’s Republic of China.
Since the completion of the Red Cross tests, more than 4,000 repatriated OFWs have been stranded in Metro Manila following the delay in the release of the swab results.
READ: Over 4K OFWs ‘stranded’ due to test lag caused by PRC-PhilHealth issue
/ MUF
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