Blue ribbon panel sets August 18 probe on DOH use of P67-billion COVID-19 fund

The Senate blue ribbon committee has set an inquiry into the alleged deficiencies found by the Commission on Audit (COA) in the Department of Health’s (DOH) utilization of its P67.32-billion fund to fight COVID-19.

The virtual public hearing is set on August 18, Wednesday at 11 a.m.  The schedule is posted on the Senate website.

“… Bubuksan ko yang blue ribbon on Wednesday just to ask the Department of Health why they cannot spend the P69 billion that was given to them and nawalan pa yung mga expired medicine,” Senator Richard Gordon, blue ribbon chairperson, said in an online forum Friday.

“I do no want to fix the blame, I just want to fix the problem and to make sure that they do that, they have to answer to our countrymen on why we’re not able to do what we’re supposed to do,” he added.

Earlier, Senator Grace Poe and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filed separate resolutions seeking an investigation into the alleged deficiencies in the use of the multi-billion funds.

The senators cited the COA findings on the procedural deficiencies in the procurement process, lack of documentation as well as lapses in implementation by the DOH of several projects.

Gordon initially appeared not keen in launching an inquiry, saying focus should first be given to the pandemic response.

“We are reviewing [it]. Alam mo ‘pag may pandemic ayaw ko mag-imbestiga e kasi nawawala ang focus natin sa dapat nating salakayin, ‘yung sakit,” he had said in a television interview Thursday.

During Friday’s forum, Gordon raised the country’s challenges in its healthcare system, including the lack of nurses and doctors.

“In terms of our health, napakalaki ng problema natin. Sinabi ko na, kulang ang doktor natin, kulang ang mga nurses natin. And marami nga tayong mga doktor nagpupunta abroad nagiging nurse, pero mas malaki ang kita,” he said.

“And of course nakita ninyo, umaangal ngayon ang mga nurses, kausap ko sila kahapon na hindi pa binabayaran yung mga private nurses ng kanilang mga health hazard at saka yung tinatawag yung transportation allowance,” he added.—LDF, GMA News