Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28) — President Rodrigo Duterte denied that COVID-19 testing supplies are overpriced in another move to defend Health Secretary Francisco Duque III from some lawmakers who believe that testing for the viral disease could be cheaper.
“‘Yung mga test, test na sinasabi nila, na they unfairly drag the name of Secretary Duque, hindi ho totoo ‘yun. Ang nagbili noon, ang budget pati, ‘yung Office of the President mismo,” Duterte said in an address to the nation aired Thursday night.
[Translation: The tests that they are saying, where they are unfairly dragging the name of Secretary Duque, that’s not true. The Office of the President bought that, including the budget for it.]
Duterte said other suppliers who offered lower prices never participated in the bidding. He said, in fact, they offered much higher prices when they were first approached to bid.
“Ganoon ang nangyari,” Duterte said. “We will have a report coming your way, and that is the stand of the Office of the President. Kami ho ang nag-utos niyan na dito na sa budget para pag-relase sa pera, madali, diretso na.”
[Translation: That’s what happened. We will have a report coming your way, and that is the stand of the Office of the President. We ordered that from the budget so that the money would be released easily.]
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon questioned the cost shouldered by PhilHealth for coronavirus tests, saying these are overpriced.
PhilHealth’s coverage for COVID-19 tests ranges from ₱2,710 to ₱8,150. The fee is cheaper if the test kit is donated to the accredited facility.
Drilon noted that the COVID-19 testing services offered by the Philippine Red Cross is cheaper by half.
He warned that the government may stand to lose over ₱8 billion over the supposedly overpriced testing fees being charged by PhilHealth.
CNN Philippines’ Xave Gregorio contributed to this report.
