Rep. Eric Yap explains 'clerical error' in COVID-19 test results

ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Yap on Sunday explained the reported "clerical error" in the results of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test he took.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Yap said documents presented to him by Research Institute for Tropical Medicine show that he indeed turned out negative for COVID-19.

However, the error was made during the encoding of the test results in the system, he said.

"Pumunta sila sa bahay. Binigyan nila ako ng files. Marami ito. Kapag tinitignan mo 'yung files, ang sinasabi negative talaga. Pero 'yung pag-encode papasok sa system nila, doon lang nailagay na positive," Yap said.

"Pero pagdating doon sa testing, sabi ko 'Doc, sure po 'yan ha?' Kasi mas maganda na kung positive na positive kesa mamaya neg-negative tayo pero positive pala," he said.

Yap said RITM assured him he tested negative. 'Sir, sure na sure 'yan kasi inulit talaga namin. Inisa-isa namin 'yung report. Tinignan namin na all the while, negative ka then pag-encode doon sa system, doon lang na i-type 'yung positive,'" he added.

RITM has admitted that the report of his COVID-19 test forwarded to Yap displayed a "clerical oversight." The agency has since apologized to the lawmaker.

But Yap said he understands that RITM accidentally committed the error as they have been making voluminous COVID-19 tests.

Yap said that while he already tested negative for COVID-19, he is still in an isolated area, but he continues to work with his fellow lawmakers through electronic means.

Budget

He also told the RITM that as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, he would push for budgetary measures to strengthen the capacity of the agency in dealing with these cases.

"Sabi ko na lang, 'Bilang Appro chair, pagdating sa budget ko, kung saan makakatulong ang Kongreso, anong budget ang kulang kayo, at paano pa natin papalakasin ang RITM, sabihin niyo ako and I will help you,'" Yap said.

The lawmaker said there is a pending P1.6 billion supplementary budget in Congress intended to procure test kits and personal protective equipment for frontliners.

However, he said he could realign it to ensure that frontliners are well-compensated as they battle against COVID-19.

"Ako ay willing pumasok ulit, willing na ayusin ito at baguhin para imbes na mapunta sa ibang mga test kit at 'yung mga PPE itong P1.6 billion, mapunta unang-una sa mga frontliners natin na nasusweldohan lang nang P500," Yap said.

"Yun sa akin na 'yung mga hindi pa licensed doctor, hindi pa licensed nurse na tutulong ngayon, huwag naman sanang P500. And at the same time, pandagdag test kits pa," he added. 

The Department of Health on Friday said medical professionals who will  volunteer to be frontliners at referral hospitals for COVID-19 would be compensated with P500 daily.

Based on the website shared by the administrators of the Viber community DOH PH COVID-19, the volunteer doctors, nurses, and other medical workers would be deployed to the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippine General Hospital in Manila, or Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan.

The DOH then apologized on Saturday after critics expressed dismay at the amount offered.

"Humihingi rin po kami ng tawad kung ang impresyon na naibigay ng P500 daily allowance ay ganito lamang ang halaga na ibinibigay namin sa ating health care workers," DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual briefing on Saturday.

Vergeire added the amount was based on what they gave for volunteers during previous outbreaks.

Philippine College of Physicians vice president Dr. Maurio Mauleon Panaligan on Sunday said the P500 compensation for volunteers is not enough. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News