President Duterte assured the Philippine Red Cross that the government will pay its debts it had accumulated for COVID-19 tests.
Duterte made the statement after the Red Cross announced last week that it has stopped accepting clients who wish to undergo swab testing if the cost will be shouldered by PhilHealth after the agency accumulated a debt of nearly P931 million.
In his weekly public address on Monday, President Duterte assured the organization's head, Senator Richard Gordon, that the government will pay what it owes.
"Yung Red Cross kasi hindi nabayaran doon sa testing sa COVID (We were not able to pay the Red Cross for the COVID-19 tests)," he said.
"What I'm trying to say is we will pay. Sabihin ko kay (I will tell) Senator Gordon, because he heads the Red Cross, na babayaran ko ito (that I will pay our debt)," he added.
Despite Philippine Red Cross stopping its services, the President expressed confidence that the organization will not completely pull out the help it has extended to the government.
"Ang problema nito (The problem is), Red Cross is threatening to---I do not know," he said.
"But I don't think Senator Gordon would have in his mind to stop the help. They will continue," he added.
According to the President, the government has always had problems with money, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He, however, assured that the government is doing its best to spend funds wisely.
"Money has always been a problem everywhere, lalo na mga gobyerno. Dumaan tayo ng malaking gastos (especially with governments. We just went through a lot of expenses)," he said.
"We're trying to make both ends meet. Parang lastiko, talagang binabanat natin nang husto yung resources natin (It's like a rubber band now. We keep on stretching our resources)," he added.
Malacañang has recognized that Red Cross' facilities account for one-fourth of the country's testing capacity. Stopping their tests could leave thousands of Filipinos unable to avail themselves of COVID-19 testing while the issue is unresolved.