Palace assures gov’t to pay hotels used as quarantine facilities of returning OFWs

November 6, 2020

Malacanang assured on Friday that the government would pay hotels, which have been used as quarantine facilities of returning overseas Filipino workers.

In the "Laging Handa" press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the concerned government agencies are just trying to verify and reconcile the hotel bills in accordance with the procedures of the Commission on Audit.

"So, don't worry. We have the money. There are only paper works and valuations that need to be done before making the payment," he said.

Roque noted that based on the report of the Overseas Welfare Workers' Administration, it has paid over P2.3 billion to various hotels, which served as quarantine facilities of returning OFWs.

Reports have said that OWWA's debt to the hotels has reached to P241 million.

The government is also paying the P930-million debt of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the COVID-19 tests to Philippine Red Cross. Over half of the debt has so far been paid. Celerina Monte/DMS