Congress seeks probe on CoA-flagged Health funds听
SEVERAL SENATORS have called for a probe on the more than P67-billion coronavirus response funds under the听Health听department that were flagged by state auditors.听
鈥淲e should investigate the Department of Health鈥檚听(DoH)听handling of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) funds. The deluge of deficiencies that the Commission of Audit (CoA) findings uncovered are alarming and disturbing,鈥澨齋enate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon听said on Thursday as he sought听an听inquiry in aid of legislation.听听
鈥淚t is imperative that we examine closely the DoH鈥檚 use of billions of pesos in COVID-19 response funds given the findings of the CoA and the corruption allegations that hounded the agency鈥檚 procurement of various COVID-19 equipment and supplies,鈥澨齅r.听Drilon said.听听
Senator听Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares听made the same call saying听“inefficiencies in the midst of a health crisis make our people bear the brunt.鈥澨
The听CoA, in a report听made public on Wednesday,听found “deficiencies” amounting to over P67 billion due to听鈥渘on-compliance (with) pertinent laws, rules, and regulations鈥澨齣n its 2020 annual report of the DOH.听听
鈥淕iven the CoA findings, the DoH seems to be depriving thousands of Filipinos of healthcare services in the face of national emergency, and it鈥檚 nothing short of criminal,鈥澨齭aid Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel in a press release.听听
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, in a separate听statement, said听the听鈥淒oH’s听management of pandemic response funds will definitely be taken up during the deliberations of the听DoH’s听2022 budget, once the Senate starts the hearings before approving their budget.鈥澨听
At the House of Representative, the听Makabayan bloc听also plans to file a resolution听seeking听an investigation听on the matter.听听
The group, composed听of progressive lawmakers, said in a press conference on Thursday that they听aim听to听have the inquiry听through the House Committees on Public Accounts and Good Government.听听听
Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate said the misuse of funds by the DoH听鈥渂orders on criminal negligence鈥澨齛s lives would have been saved if the听alloted听budget was used properly.听听听听听
He also said that the Makabayan bloc will scrutinize the DoH on the matter during deliberations for the 2022 national budget.听
Members of the group also renewed calls for Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III to resign.听听听
A majority of senators signed last year a resolution that also called for Mr. Duque鈥檚 resignation over the government鈥檚 pandemic response.听听
Mr. Duque said on听Wednesday听that the flagged deficiencies are听鈥渁ccounted for鈥澨齛nd are currently being addressed by the听DoH, adding that they are taking the findings of the CoA report听鈥渧ery seriously.鈥澨斕Alyssa Nicole O. Tan听and听Russell Louis C. Ku听听
