For now, Sotto says he is ‘comfortable’ with new PhilHealth execs

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday said he is “comfortable” at the moment with the new officials in charge of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), saying they will not allow the agency’s funds in the 2021 national budget to be corrupted.

“Yes, sa ngayon, komportable ako sa mga namumuno saka yung oversight functions kailangan gamiting mabuti kasi dala na tayo… kasi yung dati panganak-nganak ang problema,” Sotto told DWIZ when questioned if the new PhilHealth officials will not allow irregularities in the agency’s funds in 2021 budget.

(Yes, for now, I am comfortable with the new leaders and the oversight functions need to be used properly because we already learned our lesson.. because before issues in the agency were increasing.)

Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said PhilHealth is expected to receive P71.4 billion in the 2021 national budget. The House of Representatives started budget deliberations on Friday, Sept. 4.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former National Bureau of Investigation chief Dante Gierran as the new head of the state insurance firm.

Gierran replaced former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales who was asked to step down from his post because of his health condition amid irregularities in the agency.

Gierran was already ordered to reorganize the officials within the state insurance firm.

Among those being probed in Philhealth are the supposed anomalies in the state insurance company’s management of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), which is an emergency cash advance for hospitals in response to natural disasters.

/MUF