Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — There were no double payments made in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.
“There were no double payments to the PS-DBM (Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management),” the DOH said in response to allegations that it paid twice for the same set of PPEs bought by the DBM unit.
According to the DOH, they “needed” to procure full sets of PPEs in bulk and order loose surgical masks and face shields separately “to protect healthcare workers in both high and low-risk settings.”
“The PS-DBM maintains a virtual store, similar to online shopping platforms, where common-use supplies and equipment, like PPEs, are available for the purchase of National Government Agencies and local government units. Virtual store orders can be immediately claimed by the procuring agency,” said the DOH.
“The DOH scanned the PS-DBM virtual store and purchased loose face shields and surgical masks, which were readily available, to immediately augment PPE supplies for healthcare workers in low-risk settings,” it added.
As for the bulk PPE sets, the department noted that these had to be ordered and took more time to be delivered.
The PPE sets include nine components such as coverall suits, gloves, N95 masks, head covers, shoe covers, surgical masks, surgical gowns, aprons, and face shields.
The DOH issued the statement after senators quizzed the agency on whether the face shields it purchased from the PS-DBM were the same ones it bought using its own funds.
However, the DOH maintained that “these are separate transactions and all orders were completely turned over to the Department.”
According to the agency, the procured PPEs were given free of charge to healthcare workers in public and private hospitals and to other health facilities, the Bureau of Quarantine, and Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units.