Half of PhilHealth’s P930-M debt to PRC will be paid ASAP -Palace

At least half of the government’s P930.9-million debt to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will be paid “at the soonest possible time,” Malacañang said Tuesday.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. gave the assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the government would settle the debt of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (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.”

PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña said on Sunday 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 announced last week that it stopped accepting specimens from returning Filipinos, mega swabbing facilities, and local government units, among others, due to the government's mounting unpaid debt.

However, the PRC will continue to test individuals who booked their testing through its 1158 helpline or via online, private companies and organizations, and local government units and other government agencies with laboratory testing agreements with the PRC and whose payments are up to date.

“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. -MDM, GMA News