After asking questions from the Board of PhilHealth, the following points were deduced by Senator Ralph Recto:

PhilHealth’s financial status is okay, with roughly P200 billion in cash and investments. “May panlaban pala tayo sa pandemya,” Recto said.

PhilHealth’s Board or the so called “Big Brothers” agreed to the implementation of the controversial Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) because they were told by PhilHealth people that it’s being done in the past. They are also aware that the IT system is problematic.

The P10 billion additional funds being requested to be given to PhilHealth to pay for testing, under the proposed Bayanihan 2 Act, is not needed after the Board member from DOF admitted that PhilHealth has P200 billion in its funds.

DOH Sec. Duque admitted that the testing costs being shouldered by PhilHealth will not even make a dent on its P200 billion funds.

Duque should assure the public and the health workers that they are on top of the situation. Without that confidence, we cannot open the economy.