In the more than 300-page report of the Commission on Audit (COA) to the Department of Health (DOH) for the year 2020, it included P1.08 million in catering costs at their Region 6-Center for Health Development (CHD) office for virtual meetings, which are not necessary because the participants are on their respective workstations.
According to the COA, catering services are included in the total amount of P557 million spent by the regional offices of the DOH which is irregular, unnecessary, and redundant.
He also said that the spending of P2.1 million in hazard pay for personnel in Region 7 who are not physically present at work and those with accumulated leave of absence is irregular.
He also said that the payment of hazard pay in Region 2 for personnel is excessive.
The COA said Health Secretary Francisco Duque accepted their recommendation that DOH operating units follow the regulations so as not to have a disallowance or refund.
The COA also criticized the legality of PTV 4’s salaries worth P189 million. This is because of the inadequate daily time record.
DOH spent P1M in catering for virtual meetings: COA
The auditors further stressed that they have been commenting on the salaries of regular and contractual personnel of the network for several years.
In a statement, the PTV board and management said they take the findings of the COA seriously and are doing everything to comply with the recommendations.
The Palace assured that the administration will continue to fight corruption.
“Sa dami po ng mga nasibak na ng presidente dahil po sa korapsyon, wala naman pong kaduda-duda na kung merong ebidensiya, sibak po yan,” said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.
This is despite the fact that President Rodrigo Duterte himself criticized the COA for its alleged reckless “flagging” of government agencies.
Roque explained on Wednesday that the COA should release a final report and not an initial report to the public so that the agencies that notice the questions can be answered first. It is said that the departments are immediately judged as corrupt.
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