Gordon: PhilHealth’s over P800M debt affecting PRC’s COVID-19 ops

MANILA, Philippines —  The debt of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is affecting operations of the humanitarian organization.

Senator Richard Gordon, who also chairs PRC, said this Monday, disclosing that PhilHealth’s standing debt amounts to P876,048,574.00 as of April 5.

“I hope the PhilHealth realizes that the money they are not paying us hurts our operations,” Gordon said in a statement.

“They are paying in trickles and we are really having a very, very hard time. It’s hard talking to somebody who will say we will cut it by half in about two weeks. They said that about a month and a half ago and nothing has happened,” he added.

READ: PhilHealth’s debt to PRC for COVID-19 tests rises to P800M — Gordon

Gordon explained that if PhilHealth successfully pays its debt, PRC will not only be able to replenish its testing supplies, it will also be able to make sure that the asymptomatic will be taken to isolation facilities where they can be taken care of.

Late last year, PhilHealth also failed to pay its P1 billion debt to PRC, forcing the organization to suspend the COVID-19 testing it performs for the government on arriving overseas Filipino workers, passengers in airports and seaports, and individuals asking for COVID-19 tests in government swabbing facilities, among others.

The PRC resumed testing on October 28 after PhilHealth settled half of its P1-billion debt.

KGA