Gierran qualified to be PhilHealth chief –Rep. Salceda

As far as House Committee on Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda is concerned, former National Bureau of Investigation chief Dante Gierran is qualified to take the helm of the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

"Strictly speaking, yes," Salceda told reporters on Tuesday when asked if Gierran was qualified to be PhilHealth president and chief executive officer.

The Albay representative explained that the minimum qualifications for the position are at least seven years of experience in the field of public health, management, finance, and health economics or a combination of any of these expertise.

"His management experience clearly counts, and he is also an accountant," Salceda said of Gierran.

"What we should watch out for is the people he surrounds himself with. If he surrounds himself with honest and competent staff and associates from public health, finance, and economics, he will do well. If he institutes lasting reforms, with our help in Congress, he will improve the situation," he added.

While PhilHealth chiefs come and go, those under them, as well as the agency's structural issues, stay for a long time.

"These are matters we should be vigilant about. The better question we should ask Atty. Gierran is what his agenda for overhauling Philhealth will be," said Salceda.

In an ANC interview on Tuesday, Gierran admitted that he is apprehensive about leading PhilHealth considering that he lacks experience in public health.

But despite this, his experience as an investigator, lawyer, and accountant should help him solve the issues surrounding PhilHealth.

“Please spread the word, tell our people, the Filipinos, to give PhilHealth a chance. My job is to restore the trust of the people to the government,” Gierran said.

“I am new so give me a chance to move. Pagbigyan niyo muna ako,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Gierran following the resignation of ex-PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales and the leaves of absence of top executives amid allegations of corruption and fraud. — DVM, GMA News