DBM exec says P39.3-B obligated out of P42-B transferred funds

An official from the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) on Thursday said a total of P39.3 billion has already been obligated out of the more or less P42 billion fund that was transferred to them for the purchase of face masks and face shields in 2020.

At the continuation of the House committee on public accounts inquiry on the Department of Health's utilization of COVID-19 funds, Agusan del Norte Representative Lawrence Fortun asked the PS-DBM for updates on the transferred funds.

"May I hear from DBM about the P11.4 billion that don't have yet complete deliveries. We're talking of P42.4, P31 billion ang mayroong complete deliveries, kumusta naman 'yung P11.4 billion so far?" Fortun said.

In response, PS-DBM chief Jasonmer Uayan said P39.3 billion was already obligated. Of that amount, there is an ongoing delivery worth P12.2 billion.

"We only actually received P41.4 billion for 2020. As of this day, P39.3 billion of that P41 (billion) has already been obligated and out of the P39.3 billion obligated funds, P27.1 billion were already paid and we have an ongoing delivery of P12.2 billion as of this day," Uayan said.

The DOH was questioned over its sudden transfer of funds to the PS-DBM even though the health officials are still capable of holding several procurement biddings.

The matter was also pointed out by the Commission on Audit in its 2020 audit report.

Senator Imee Marcos had mentioned the COA report, which showed that the DBM-PS had procured face masks at P27.22 each and face shields priced at P120 each.

It was bared that it was former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lao who was in-charge of the PS-DBM during that time. Lao resigned months ago, according to DBM officer-in-charge Tina Rose Canda.

During a Senate inquiry on Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Lao justified the transfer of funds, with Duque saying that their own Bids and Awards Committee cannot handle the volume of orders they need during the onset of the pandemic.—AOL, GMA News