Drug company demands P19M payment from CH

MANILA, Philippines - A pharmaceutical company is now demanding payment from the Cebu City government of the P19.5 million it incurred since 2010 for the City Hospitalization and Medicines Program.

Dr. Stanley Villacin, general manager of Dominique Pharmaceuticals-Botica sa Masa, sought the assistance of the City Council to facilitate and expedite payment of the already long overdue payables of the city.

In a letter addressed to Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairperson of the committee on budget and finance, Villacin said the city failed to pay them P14.2 million on top of the P5.3 million payables in 2010.

He said the billings, with the names of beneficiaries attached on it, were already submitted to the city years ago but were not acted upon.

“We would like to bring to your attention that several billings since the implementation of this program through CAMP (City Assistance and Medicines Program) last 2010, has remained unpaid until now that the program has been changed to CHAMP,” Villacin said.

“In order for us to continue our operations, and extending service to the city, we are asking your honorable committee to assist in facilitation the processing of payments of these billings,” he added.

The council has referred the matter to the City Treasurer’s Office, CHAMP office, and the city attorney for comments.

City budget officer Marietta Gumia clarified that they already processed all pending CHAMP payment requests. She said the vouchers are already at the treasurer’s office. City treasurer Diwa Cuevas said she has yet to check the vouchers and the supporting documents.

But Cuevas assured that the city government will pay what is due to Dominique Pharmaceuticals. 

The city still has P20 million unused fund for CHAMP this year as certified by the Department of the Social Welfare and Services, which is more than enough to pay the obligation.

The Champ is a program under the city mayor’s office, which provides assistance to indigents. A beneficiary can enjoy a total of P35,000 assistance for public hospitals to help defray expenses for medicines, laboratory tests, dialysis, ECG, X-ray, and other medical and laboratory procedures. — /FPL (FREEMAN)