Duterte to Cabinet: Disclose agencies’ spending every 15 days or monthly

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has said he wants Cabinet officials to disclose their agencies’ spending, including its pandemic response, either every 15 days or monthly.

“Itong sa Cabinet, another publication sa disbursement nila. Kung ilan ang ginastos nila ngayong buwan na ito o gusto mo, every 15 days para mas maganda,” Duterte said in a taped address aired Tuesday.

(This Cabinet, another publication in their disbursement. On how much you spent this month, or if you want every 15 days, if that would be better.)

The President had a meeting with Cabinet officials in Davao City on Monday night regarding the government’s response on COVID-19.

“Ilagay nila magkano ang ginastos and for what. And at the end of the month maybe or after, buwanan mas maganda, makita na nila kung yung pinuntahan ng pera, napunta ba talaga at nagastos,” Duterte said.

(They should indicate how much they spent and for what. And at the end of the month maybe or after, monthly would be better, they’ll see where the money did go, if it really went to serve its purpose.)

Duterte also ordered government officials to publish notice of procurement and even bidders’ addresses in newspapers.

“Ipa-publish yung mga, so they must prepare well [in] advance because I would require them to publish in the newspaper, sa tatlong newspaper of general circulation, mamili na kayo kung anong newspaper ang gusto niyo, ipa-publish ko ito ang mga bibilihin at pagkatapos ipupublish ko sino yung bidders,” Duterte said.

(It will be published, so they must prepare well in advance because I would require them to publish in the newspaper, in three newspapers of general circulation, choose what newspaper you prefer, I will publish whatever they plan to procure and then I will also publish who are the bidders.)

“Ipangalan nila. I want na kung saan sila nakatira,” he went on.

(They should name them. I want where they are residing.)

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the President already asked government agencies to submit their respective expense report to his office.

JPV