Benitez to shoulder payments for Covid-19 tests at provincial lab

GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, June 16, that Bacolod residents should be grateful to the gesture of former Third District representative and now Capitol consultant Alfredo Benitez who will pay for the Covid-19 tests at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City.

"Bacolod should be very grateful that Benitez has guaranteed payment. It is not a payment, but a donation," Lacson said.

Benitez earlier said he will work with the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth so that the TLJPH can be reimbursed for the cost of the Covid-19 tests, or if not, he himself will pay for the tests of Bacolod residents.

Earlier, the governor called on local government units in Negros Occidental to donate to the operations of the biolab.

He said the results from biolab are faster because results are already out by two to three days only.

Lacson said the province has 12,000 test kits available since the start of operation of the molecular lab but with the expected increase of returning Negrense overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals, "we are looking for direct suppliers."

The Provincial Government also has yet to make an ordinance setting up a payment at the TLJPH Covid-19 test lab.