Press Release
April 8, 2021

Bong Go says PhilHealth pledged to expedite payments to Red Cross, hospitals to ensure unhampered conduct of COVID-19 tests and other medical services

Senator Christopher "Bong" on Wednesday, April 7, said that PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran pledged to expedite payments and settle its obligations to Red Cross and public and private hospitals to ensure the unhampered conduct of COVID-19 tests and provision of needed medical services amid rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases, particularly in Metro Manila.

"Kahapon po ay nakausap ko rin si Atty. (Dante) Gierran... nakiusap din si Senator Gordon, sabi ko bilisan na pagbayad sa Red Cross para hindi po ma-hamper ang COVID-19 testing nila," Go said in a radio interview.

"Nangako naman si Atty. Gierran at nakausap din po mismo ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte si Atty. Gierran na bilisan na po ang pagbayad sa Red Cross, pati na rin po sa private at government hospitals para po bumilis ang kanilang cash flow. Kapag mabilis ang kanilang cash flow, meron po silang pang-roll sa kanilang hospital at makakapagdagdag sila ng additional hospital beds para po doon sa COVID-19 patients," he added.

Go made his appeal to Gierran during the turnover ceremony of the Department of Health-Quezon Institute Off-Site Modular Hospital in Quezon City. According to the Senator, the modular facility, which aims to augment beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients in Metro Manila, is a 110-bed capacity off-site modular hospital extension of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center located at the Quezon Institute.

"At kahapon din po nagbukas tayo sa Quezon Institute. Maraming salamat kay Dr. Camilo Roa na nagpagamit ng property doon sa Quezon Institute," Go said.

"Meron nang 110 ICU-capable (beds). Ibig sabihin, may ventilator, oxygen 'yung mga severe cases. Hindi na po kailangang pumunta sa ospital. Diretso na po sila doon sa Quezon Institute," he added.

To further increase Metro Manila's beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients, Go mentioned that the government is looking to add more ICU beds similar to modular units which will cater to severe cases.

"Nangako naman po ang ating gobyerno, ang national government, magdadagdag pa po sa Lung Center, d'yan po sa Jose Rodriguez (hospital), at iba pang lokasyon, dadagdagan pa ng ICU beds na tulad nitong modular units pa po para doon sa mga severe cases," shared Go.

"Para naman po makasalba tayo ng buhay ng mga kapwa Pilipino, lalung lalo na po ang mga naghihingalo po na walang matakbuhan at pinahihintay po sa mga ospital. Iyon po ang napaka-importante -- ang buhay ng bawat tao," he added.

Meanwhile, Go urged the public to let medical experts thoroughly assess and validate claims of various COVID-19 medications, particularly those of Ivermectin, in accordance with existing laws and regulations to ascertain the safety and efficacy of these drugs.

"'Yung Ivermectin naman po, isa po tayo sa nananawagan na maging bukas tayo na pag-aralan. Kaya nga po nanawagan tayo noong nakaraang linggo na pag-aralang mabuti ng FDA. Kung makakatulong naman, eh, bakit hindi?" said Go.

"Pero kung nakakasama, eh, 'di sabihin nila kung hindi pwede. Dapat bukas tayo, lalung lalo na ngayon na desperado na ang ating mga kababayan na makapaghanap po ng gamot o prevention po. Dapat bukas tayo ngayon sa anumang gamot na puwede pong makatulong," he added.

The Senator also expressed his gratitude to Visayan frontliners who have expressed willingness to be deployed in the National Capital Region Plus bubble to augment the medical force in the area.

"Pasalamatan ko rin po ang mga Bisaya. Meron pong nag-volunteer na mga 100 na nurses at doctor, kasi kung magdaragdag tayo ng hospital facilities ay kailangan din po natin ng mga health workers. Nag-boluntaryo sila from the Visayas, from Cebu, na pumunta na po ngayong araw na ito sa Maynila para tumulong po sa atin. Salamat sa mga Bisaya," he said.

He assured Filipinos of his continuing commitment to serve them, especially in their time of need.

"Bawal pong magpapatay-patay ngayong panahong ito, mas mamamatay ka lalo. Magtulungan lang po tayo... Isang beses lang tayong dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano po'ng tulong ang maibibigay natin, gawin na natin ngayon," he said.

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