MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said that there is a need to conduct an investigation into the Department of Health’s deficiency in its management of P67.3 billion for COVID-19 response.
“Hindi ko alam kung ‘yung Senate magkakaroon ng investigation about this, pero kailangan kasi hindi pwedeng tuloy-tuloy na nangyayari ito na at a time na kailangan na kailangan natin ‘yung pera, nangyayari pa ito,” Robredo said during the Biserbisyong Leni program on Sunday.
(I do not know if the Senate will have an investigation about this, but it is necessary because this should not continue to happen at a time when we need the money.)
Robredo said that the improper documentation of funds is a governance issue as the Commission on Audit (COA) ruled out the possibility of corruption this early.
“May paglilinaw na nilabas ang COA na hindi pa natin sinasabi na nawawala ito. Pero, marami kasi dito na hindi maayos ‘yung documentation. So, sa’kin, ano pa din ito governance issue pa din,” Robredo explained.
(COA released a clarification that the amount of money is not missing. However, most of it was not properly documented. So, for me, it is still a governance issue.)
The vice president likewise lamented the P95 million worth of medicines and medical supplies that are expired or nearing its expiration, and the millions of dialysis sessions that could have been used, among others.
“Sayang kasi sabi tayo nang sabi na walang pera pero ang daming pera na dahil sa—hindi ko alam kung poor governance o mismanagement—pero ang daming hindi nagastos,” Robredo said.
(It’s a waste because we keep saying that we do not have money but a lot of the money—I don’t know if it’s due to poor governance or mismanagement—but a lot has not been used.)
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