Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 30) – National COVID-19 task force chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. says he is personally vouching that all COVID-19 related transactions are above board amid calls to audit such expenses.
“Base sa personal experience natin sa pag-handle ng mga procurement, especially mga PPE (personal protective equipment), test kits, at lahat ng mga kailangan ng DOH (Department of Health), talaga pong maitataya namin ang aming integridad sa pagbili ng mga kagamitan na kailangan ng ating mga mamamayan sa paglaban sa COVID,” Galvez said in a press briefing on Thursday.
[Translation: Based on my personal experience in handling procurement, especially PPE, test kits, and all other needs of the DOH, I can really say that I can put my name on the line to vouch for the integrity of the purchases of material needed by the people in the fight against COVID-19.]
Six senators have asked the Commission on Audit to conduct a thorough probe on all coronavirus-related expenses of the government, following billions of pesos in realigned budget items, loans, and donations received by the government since the global pandemic was declared.
Galvez said purchases of protective gear, hospital equipment, and medicines have also been streamlined to fast-track transactions and cut costs. He said President Rodrigo Duterte has been in talks with global leaders for direct procurement to make things cheaper.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque added that he will present details on COVID-19 spending measures next week to show that the government has “nothing to hide.”
The Office of the Ombudsman has initiated its own probe into lapses in the COVID-19 response.
On Tuesday, six senators asked the Commission on Audit to conduct a special probe into government spending related to COVID-19, given the billions of pesos of realigned funds, loans, and donations received from local and international sources.
Senator Nancy Binay also told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Thursday that she believes all the expenses should be accounted for.
“Alam naman natin maraming alegasyon pagdating dun sa pag-disburse ng Bayanihan 1 (Act) and dapat naman talagang i-audit siya whether special or regular audit [We know there are numerous allegations regarding the disbursement of funds under the Bayanihan 1 (Act) so it really should be audited whether special or regular audit],” the senator said, but worried that state auditors will be able to finish the review in time for deliberations on the 2021 budget in Congress.
The government is now gearing up for additional orders of nasal canulla, a new medical equipment that is said to be more effective than ventilators in treating patients with trouble breathing.
READ: PH debt breaches ₱9T in June as gov’t borrows more for pandemic response
