House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre
House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre on Thursday dismissed as 鈥渕isinformed鈥� Sen. Ronald dela Rosa鈥檚 allegations about the Tingog party list鈥檚 deal with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
The Tingog party list representative said the group would not be handing any funds under the program, which aims to improve healthcare access for Filipinos in rural communities.
鈥淭ingog鈥檚 participation in this initiative is rooted in its mission to improve access to health care, especially in underserved and rural communities 鈥� Tingog does not handle funds, manage projects, or encroach upon the functions of the Department of Health (DOH) or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). These agencies remain central to national healthcare programs,鈥� Acidre said.
READ: Tingog to only help, empower LGUs in PhilHealth-DBP program 鈥� Acidre
Tingog signed on Dec. 6 a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PhilHealth and the DBP for the 鈥淢aalagang Republika Rural Financing Health Development鈥� program which aims to establish more health facilities in rural areas.
The MOA outlines the partylist group鈥檚 role in supporting local government units (LGUs) by helping them access the DBP鈥檚 financial mechanisms through fiscal training, capacity-building, and other initiatives and extending direct medical assistance to patients.
Acidre said Tingog鈥檚 involvement would be strictly facilitative and would not infringe on the mandates of government agencies.
Politicized
Dela Rosa, in a privilege speech on Wednesday, criticized the MOA, saying the program was politicized, and claimed that the initiative bypassed government agencies. He also questioned the program鈥檚 timing.
鈥淚n the end 鈥� the question of everyone regarding the agreement signed by PhilHealth, the DBP, and Tingog Party list: Is this legal? Is this ethical? Will politics be mixed with health programs? Can we say that this is purely ethical and legal, with no political agenda involved? Are there any laws being violated, as alleged by others? Notice the timing of this program,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e will never oppose the promotion of projects that will improve the health situation of our fellow citizens. But I hope that the implementation of this is in accordance with the law,鈥� he added.
He also questioned the absence of the DOH in the agreement, which is the government agency in charge of health; and the DILG, which is tasked to coordinate with the local government units.
Acidre, however, said the senator should first answer the public鈥檚 questions on the extrajudicial killings committed under the Duterte administration鈥檚 drug war instead of criticizing the program. Dela Rosa spearheaded the antidrug crackdown as the head of the Philippine National Police.
He further stressed that the MOA adheres to legal protocols, that the financial arrangements are strictly between the DBP and LGUs, and that no funds would be transferred to Tingog. INQ