Duque admits some previous Health Department deals were corrupt as Gordon threatens to block the budget



[ad_1]

Duque was saved from the blows

Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III (taken on February 4, 2020)
PHOTO BY EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III acknowledged Wednesday that there was “corruption” in some of the DOH’s earlier dealings after Senator Richard Gordon threatened to block approval of the department’s budget. .

During the Senate plenary debates on DOH’s proposed 2021 budget early Thursday, Senator Richard Gordon raised questions regarding public funds withdrawn for various DOH programs in the past.

Aside from the funds withdrawn for Dengvaxia in 2015, Gordon said that money was also withdrawn for the health facility improvement program to build barangay health stations.

“In fairness to Secretary Duque, he exposed that. I heard it on television. The total amount that was withdrawn was P10.6 billion and there was immediate release, ”Gordon added, speaking in part in Filipino.

In 2016, DOH and J. Bros Construction signed a P3.5 billion contract to establish barangay health stations in public elementary schools.

The contract indicated that 3,200 stations should be built for the first phase of the program.

But when J. Bros Construction submitted its notice to terminate the contract in March 2018 to DOH, it demanded payment of P2.1 billion to complete the first and second phases of the project.

But DOH had previously said that only 270 stations were built, which Gordon reiterated during deliberations.

“What’s the update on barangay health centers now? Were we able to get the money back? ” I ask.

Senator Pia Cayetano, who sponsored the DOH budget, said the department would like to follow up on the Court of Appeals ruling, which ordered the agency to pay the private contractor for the 270 completed units and “whatever [Commission on Audit] decides it is owed to the contractor on quantum merit. “

Additionally, Cayetano said DOH had terminated the contract with the contractor.

DOH also blacklisted the contractor, “but that decision was overturned” by a Manila Regional Court of First Instance (RTC), according to Cayetano.

“Therefore, the DOH, with the [Office of the Solicitor General] is challenging this RTC decision. This case is pending before the Manila RTC ”, added Cayetano.

But Gordon said: “I’m surprised. This is really scamming the country… Those people are really sassy. So what are you doing about it, Secretary Duque? What are you and your lawyers doing about it? “

“Do you agree that there was corruption here?” I ask. “‘There is corruption.’ I want it to be on file as stated by the Health Department. “

Cayetano, who was sitting across from DOH officials, including Duque, responded: “He’s under investigation. It’s possible.”

But Gordon said he couldn’t accept Cayetano’s answer. He said he was “tempted” to block the approval of the DOH budget “if they themselves cannot admit they have been misled.”

“Especially since the Secretary of Health has already said that this was a poorly planned exercise and that the government lost money,” Gordon said.

“The question is simple: Do you agree that there is corruption as a department?” I ask.

Cayetano immediately said that Duque was answering affirmatively to Gordon’s question.

“The answer is yes. The Secretary was answering behind me and he said yes,” he said.

In response, Gordon said, “Thank you, that’s all I wanted to hear.”

DOH’s proposed 2021 budget was approved after no more senators were listed to question.

[atm]

Read next

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.



[ad_2]