Amid questions over the country’s capability to conduct large-scale testings during the coronavirus pandemic, a lawmaker on Wednesday expressed hopes that congressmen will be prioritized for testing. | NAMercadoINQ
“Lahat naman tayo nagbabayad ng PhilHealth. Kamukha nating mga congressman, 304 tayo. Nagbabayad tayo tuwing magssweldo tayo, salary deduction, P900 a month. Sa loob ng tatlong taon, P32,420,” the lawmaker said.
Datol said that more than 100 members of Congress are considered senior citizens who are vulnerable to the disease. “Ngayon, kamukha naming mga senior citizen sa Kongreso, mahigit 100 kami diyan. Ang alam ko, ang senior citizen exempted na sa PhilHealth. Bakit lahat tayo, bata at matanda sa Kongreso, inaalisan pa ng P900 a month,” Datol said. “Kaya nga ang hiling ko sana, unahin muna natin sana, kung ang testing na yan ay maaprubahan na, unahin muna ang lahat ng ating mga colleagues at ating mga empleyado. Siguro mga almost 5,000 tayo,” he added.The lawmaker further said: “Kasi tayo, kahit may sakit, hindi pwedeng hindi tutulong tayo sa kababayan…Pag eleksyon nagha-house to house tayo, kaya nga kapag hindi tayo nag-house to house ngayon, pupulaan po tayo.” Datol likewise suggested the inclusion of senior citizens in the priority list under the bill as they are the demographic that registered the highest fatality rate over the virus. “I hope that this body will consider my suggestion para naman mapawi ang kaba at alinlangan ng ating mga lola at lolo sapagkat malalaman nila ang Kongreso ay nandito para alagaan sila,” Datol said. In March, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III disclosed that some “VIPs” made direct requests to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for them to be tested for COVID-19.on who should be tested – individuals with exposure to COVID-19-positive patients and those who had recent travel to countries with local transmission. Regardless, the requests made by the “VIPs” drew flak on social media, especially following report that some of those tested—including government officials—
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