After thorough deliberations, committee hearings, a public hearing, and three separate readings, Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos and the members of the Provincial Board known as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved on third and final reading, the proposed ordinance which prescribes the uniform rates for the use and availment of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at laboratories, hospitals, and medical facilities owned and operated by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh).

The chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, Board Member Aldner Damalerio, sponsored the ordinance that went through scrutiny with fellow board members before it was successfully approved on Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

Accordingly, the passage of the ordinance was for the purpose of standardizing the rates for the RAT in PGBh labs and medical facilities.

Based on the approved ordinance, those who will avail themselves of the RAT at PGBh laboratories and medical facilities shall be charged with P800 pesos per test.

Reports say that the fees were based also on the price of the testing kits as purchased by the PGBh from suppliers.

In addition, Relampagos suggested to come up with a rate that will not become a burden to those who want to avail themselves of the RAT.

Likewise, Relampagos added that the rate should only be enough to recover the cost of acquisition of the RAT kit.

Income from the RAT test shall be used in purchasing more kits and for the cost of maintenance of the laboratories owned by the PGBh.

The ordinance provides considerations for indigents or those availing themselves of the program called Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

Under the ordinance which will be sent to Gov. Arthur Yap for his signature, an indigent person shall first go to the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD) for the issuance of an availment card to be presented to the laboratory personnel prior to the RAT.

A person in crisis situation who has paid the RAT may be reimbursed of the fee if he/she can show the official receipt to the OPSWD.

It should be known that the Philhealth is not covering the cost of the RAT, according to reports.