Sen. Joel Villanueva on Wednesday urged employers to immediately conduct COVID-19 testing among their workers as he assured that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has enough funds to shoulder its cost.
"Hindi po dapat mag alinlangan na magsagawa ng regular surveillance test ang mga employers (Employers should not hesitate to conduct regualar surveillance tests). May sapat na pondo ang PhilHealth para mag-monitor at mag-test para sa COVID(-19) sa mga lugar-paggawa kaya dapat ipatupad ito sa lalong madaling panahon (The PhilHealth gas enough funds to monitor and pay for the COVID-19 tests in workplaces so this should be implemented as soon as possible)," Villanueva said in a statement.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor echoed the assurance of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during the Senate Committee of the Whole's inquiry Tuesday on the alleged anomalies in the State health insurer.
Villanueva had underscored the need for a mandatory regular testing in workplaces, and that the PhilHealth should pay for it. He asked Duque if the government has enough funds for such a program.
"Mayroon naman hong pondo, kailangan lang po na planuhin 'yong program nito para maayos ang implementation (There are funds, we just have to plan this program so that it's implementation will be smooth)," Duque responded.
Of the P22.5 billion that the PhilHealth was expected to spend for COVID-19 testing this year, Villanueva estimated that only less than P7 billion might have been spent, based on DoH data showing the over two million tests have been conducted.
He also noted that lawmakers, under the proposed Bayanihan 2, are mulling to add P10 billion to augment the funds for COVID-19 testing.
Villanueva has been pushing for the regular, random testing in workplaces to curb the transmission of COVID-19.