Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH), currently under fire for allegations of improper spending of its COVID-19 funds, should not waste what the country has gained since the pandemic, Senator Bong Go said.
He said he’s urging the DOH to clarify the points raised by the Commission on Audit (COA), citing deficiencies in the way the department handled its P67.32 billion response to the COVID-19.
“I appeal to the [DOH] to clarify further the issues found in the [COA] findings regarding the use of public funds for the country’s pandemic response. Given that we are in a state of a public health emergency, we should ensure that these issues are resolved immediately,” the senator, who chairs the Senate committee on health, said on Thursday.
“Malayo na ang narating natin mula nang nagsimula ang pandemya. Huwag nating sayangin ang hirap at sakripisyo ng bawat Pilipino para maiahon ang bansa mula sa krisis na ito,” he added.
Go has stated that no funds from COVID-19 should be wasted, especially since the country needs every fund it can get to tackle its health crisis.
“Walang dapat masayang, lalo na’t patuloy ang ating pagbabakuna at pagsugpo sa pandemya. Bawat araw, bawat oras, bawat minuto at bawat piso ay mahalaga dahil habulan itong laban na ito. Huwag dapat mawala ang focus natin sa tunay na kalaban — ang COVID-19. Kasama na d’yan ang hirap at gutom na dala nito,” he claimed.
(Our efforts to vaccinate and control the pandemic shouldn’t be wasted no matter how we deal with it. Because of this, every minute, every day, and every peso are important. COVID-19 should be our primary focus. This includes the hardship and hunger it brings.)
So if such questions need to be answered, explain that they should be answered as soon as possible, in a concise, clear, and easily understood way, Go said.
Then, we can focus on making sure the sick are provided with effective drugs, vaccines, and services, he added.
According to COA’s annual audit report for the Department of Health in 2020, the deficiencies in the COVID-19 funds resulted from non-compliance with pertinent laws and regulations, which led to missed opportunities for the department tasked with managing the pandemic.
As a result, COA said, the regularity of transactions has been questioned, and funds that need to be expended lay unused.
The commission also made a list of recommendations to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, urging him to remind and direct unit heads to receive and use funds allocated for COVID-19 as soon as possible while instructing the administration and financial team to coordinate and assess COVID-19 funds regularly.
READ: COA finds deficiencies in how DOH manages P67.32-B COVID funds
Go said that it is really COA’s job to look into the expenditures of each department, including the DOH.
“Trabaho naman talaga ng COA na siyasatin kung ginagamit nang wasto ng lahat ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno ang pondo ng bayan. Kaya para sa DOH, bukod sa pagsiguro na sapat ang ating mekanismo upang mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan, parte rin ng mandato ninyo ang pagsiguro na wala ni isang iregularidad sa mga hakbang na ating ginagawa,” he explained.
(The COA is responsible for ensuring that all government agencies are using public funds appropriately. In ensuring that our countrymen are protected from ill-health, part of the DOH’s mandate is to make certain that we do not break any laws.)
“Naniniwala naman ako na buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino ang inuuna ninyo sa inyong trabaho,” he added.
(I’m sure the lives and welfare of every Filipino are your top priorities.)