MANILA – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III sees no need for the Congress to grant President Rodrigo Duterte any special powers to implement reforms at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The President, according to Sotto, already has the capability to adequately address the situation but the senators will also consider it once they see the proposal.
“Anong klaseng emergency powers ‘yung ibibigay pa, idadagdag mo na hindi niya kayang gawin ngayon?” Sotto told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“Kung merong makikita tayo na hindi niya kayang gawin ngayon, in order to, let’s say revamp, reorganize, or whatever he can do sa PhilHealth, then yes, by all means, let’s give it to him,” he added. “Pero kung nandoon naman sa mga powers niya, bakit pa?”
On Wednesday, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts chair Mike Defensor of Anakalusugan Partylist said his panel was “inclined” to give the President emergency powers to reform PhilHealth, following numerous controversies surrounding the agency, however no details have been provided yet.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Malacanang welcomes the special powers being proposed by the House but President Rodrigo Duterte wants to see the measure first.
“The President welcomes the willingness of the House of Representatives to give him emergency powers, but concrete recommendations need to be presented first,” Roque said in a virtual press conference./PN
