Hontiveros insists Chinese PPEs overpriced, says P1B loss ‘conservative’

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday maintained her position that the personal protective equipment (PPE) that the government procured from China for COVID-19 response in previous months were overpriced.

This was after the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) claimed it actually saved P800 million when it purchased China-made PPEs in April and May.

"The 1 billion-peso loss is even a conservative estimate," Hontiveros said in a statement.

Citing DBM's Quarter 2 report which covered April and May, the opposition senator said "the Department of Health (DOH) has ordered another 5.1 million PPE sets amounting to around P10.2 billion. The procurement of which is ongoing."

"This means the DBM and DOH were procuring PPE sets for P2,000 each. However, also in May, the Palace reported that during their Inter-Agency Task Force meeting, the government procured PPE sets worth P1,100 each," Hontiveros said.

"There’s a huge discrepancy there. Where is the extra P900 going? That’s around P4 billion worth of PPE sets that is unaccounted for. Mukhang may nagsasayang ng pera ng mamamayan. Mukhang may kumikita talaga," she added.

Further, Hontiveros questioned why the government is allegedly not procuring from local manufacturers when the Confederation of Philippine Manufacturers of PPE reportedly said it can produce three million medical-grade coveralls and isolation gowns monthly.

"Kayang kaya ng Pilipino tumugon sa pangangailangan ng kapwa Pilipino. DBM and DOH should immediately engage with and prioritize our local manufacturers. Kung magagawa ito, mas maraming trabaho din ang mapupunta sa Pilipino," she said.

Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao earlier said the PS-DBM only awards contracts to suppliers who have passed international standards and can timely produce the country's demand for PPEs.

The Palace, meanwhile, urged Hontiveros to file appropriate charges if she has proof to support her allegation.—LDF,GMA News