Interview ‘fee’ OK, says Dayrit

Saying it was not a "big deal, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit shrugged off yesterday reports that the director of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), Dr. Bernardo Vicente, was charging journalists P150 for interviews.

The health chief said that Vicente was not violating any Civil Service Commission law by charging media the "interview fee" saying that Vicente could order the collection of the fee as office policy. The NCMH is a mental institution catering to citizens with mental health problems who cannot afford the services of private hospitals.

Vicente refuses telephone interviews with the media. His staff instructs journalists wanting an interview to fax a request letter which could be granted depending on his availability. - Rainier Allan Ronda