Duque called to resign over alleged DOH’s COVID-19 fund use deficiencies

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat wanted Health Secretary Francisco Duque to resign after Commission on Audit (COA) found deficiencies in using P67.32 billion COVID-19 funds.

“Kailangan nang magresign ni Sec. Duque sa lantarang kapabayaan at korapsyon na nagaganap sa DOH,” Cullamat said.

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(Secretary Duque should resign amid the blatant negligence and corruption in DOH.)

“Imbis na sa pagtugon sa pandemya at paggugol sa bakuna at pagsasaayos ng mga pasilidad sa ospital, ang pera ng taumbayan ay napupunta sa korapsyon at pamamasista. Hindi natin ito dapat payagan,” she added.

(Instead of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the procurement of vaccines, and establishment of hospital facilities, the money was being used for corruption. This should not be allowed.)

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Cullamat is dismayed that health workers still receive a low income or delayed hazard pay amid this corruption in DOH. Some hospitals also lack facilities and equipment to address the pandemic.

“Pareho ang NTF-ELCAC at DOH na bilyones ang pondo at parehong may deficiencies sa audit ng public funds na allocated sa kanila sa panahon ng pandemic,” Cullamat said.

(The NTF-ELCAC and DOH both have billions of funds, and they both have deficiencies in the audit of the budget allocated to them amid the pandemic.)

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Also read: Not yet time to get rid of face shields: Duque

Duque called to resign over alleged DOH’s COVID-19 fund use deficiencies

“Lantarang pangungurakot ito sa harap ng lugmok na kahirapan at gutom ng marami. Habang ang mga opisyal ng ahensyang ito ay nagpapakabusog sa pera ng taong bayan, nakasadlak tayong mahihirap sa lumulobong dayuhang utang,” she added.

(This obviously depicts corruption despite the hardships experienced by the public amid the health crisis. As the DOH officials enjoy the public’s money, citizens encounter poverty and face huge foreign loans.)

The COA report said that deficiencies include more than P5 billion worth of purchases made by the agency without proper documents and more than P194 million that was allegedly not in favor of the government.

It is estimated that more than P1.45 billion in donations do not have enough documents.

More than P69 million in medical equipment and supplies were also procured. Still, they were not used or were not used immediately due to reasons that can be avoided if procurement  is followed properly, according to the COA.

The Department of Health replied that the funds were “accounted for” and that the funds specified by the COA were complete in the documentation.

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