By Fernan Angeles
MALACAÑANG has stepped into the squabble between the Philippine Red Cross and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation over the latter’s refusal to pay one billion worth of COVID-19 tests that was charged to the state insurer.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, said that the President has already spoken and that at least half of the government’s P930.9-million debt to the PRC will be paid “at the soonest possible time.”
In a press briefing, Roque gave the assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the government would settle the debt of the embattled PhilHealth after the PRC halted COVID-19 testing services chargeable to the state insurer.
“It’s a matter really of accounting and payment. Di ko lang po masigurado pero parang tumatawad din ata tayo ng kaunti doon sa sinisingil ng PRC na wala naman daw pong problema,” Roque said at a news conference.
“May mga papeles naman na ginagawa but I can assure you that at least half of that will be paid at the soonest time possible.”
On Sunday, PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña said that the state insurer was aiming to settle its obligation within the month, adding they were awaiting clearance from the Department of Budget and Management to proceed with the payment.
The PRC stopped accepting specimens from returning Filipinos, mega swabbing facilities, and local government units, among others, due to the government’s mounting unpaid debt.
“Do not worry. We will pay. It will take time but we will pay. We’ll look for the money,” Duterte said in a televised address on Monday night.
The organization accounted for over 1 million of the 4.3 million tests conducted as of October 18, data from the Department of Health showed.