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Senators in Manila for proposed liaison office
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Posted on May 04 2005
Led by Senate Health Committee chair Henry San Nicolas, some senators flew to the Philippines last Tuesday to check on the possibility of having a liaison office in that country for CNMI patients.
Included in the team are senators Joseph Mendiola and Luis Crisostimo.
Their unavailability reportedly prompted the Senate leadership to cancel a session originally set for today on Tinian.
Mendiola and Crisostimo earlier confirmed that their Manila trip was set in connection with the Senate’s discussion of a pending bill calling for the setting up of a liaison office in Manila for referral patients.
At the same time, they would look into a Guam-like referral system, which is seen as more economical than having a liaison office.
Mendiola said that part of their itinerary is to check Guam’s medical referral agent in Manila.
Five CNMI senators earlier visited Guam to learn about its medical referral program in Manila.
Mendiola said that Guam refers an average of 25 patients a month to Manila hospitals and spends some $100,000 a year.
Guam put out an RFP two years ago for an agent to facilitate the treatment of Guam patients.
The senators also raised the idea of just having a liaison office for Rota and Tinian patients.
Mendiola and Crisostimo said earlier that if Saipan would not agree to the creation of a liaison office, Tinian and Rota may go ahead with it using their local funds.
This came about after Saipan senator and minority leader Pete P. Reyes repeatedly objected to the office’s revival, citing funding concerns, among others.
Crisostimo, who is from Saipan, is supportive of the setting up of the liaison office.
The proposal is contained in a House bill that passed the lower chamber.
