A lawmaker on Friday (Aug. 20) sought an investigation into the Quezon City government’s procurement of 400,000 face shields due to alleged overpricing worth P24 million.
AnaKalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor asked, through Resolution No. 2143, to inquire in aid of legislation on the said purchase.
“Since we are investigating alleged wrongdoing by the Department of Health (DOH) in the use of pandemic response funds, we might as well look into similar irregularities committed by local government units (LGUs) like Quezon City,” Defensor said.
“The price paid by the Quezon City LGU was more than 600% higher than the going rate. There was an almost P60 premium paid per unit, or a total overprice of at least P24 million for a single procurement,” he added.
Defensor said the documents came from insiders of the city government who “are scandalized” by the alleged corruption in the City Hall.
In response, Quezon City legal officer Atty. Niño Casimiro said in a statement that the “allegations are unfounded,” adding that the context and timing of the procurement should have been stated.
“This was during the time that [the] IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force] Resolution No. 88, series of 2020 (issued on December 14, 2020) made it mandatory to wear face shields under the threat of legal sanctions. This triggered the immediate necessity to provide our citizens the means to comply therewith, especially the poor,” he said.
“A little research would have revealed that the Procurement Service of the national government (through the Department of Budget and Management) was selling the same face shield at P120 per piece to other government units during that time,” he added.
He also assured that they were “meticulously audited and scrutinized by the Commission of Audit (COA),” citing that they have received a “clean opinion and the highest audit score.”
Audit reports
Defensor’s move took place amid the release of initial audit reports on government agencies, instrumentalities, and local government units.
Recently, the Department of Health (DOH) was flagged over deficiencies worth P67.3 billion which the agency said are “mostly resolved.” The COA has already clarified that its initial report “does not mention any findings by the auditors of funds lost to corruption.”
Malacaῆang also assured that public funds are being properly utilized under the current administration, and that President Rodrigo Duterte would not hesitate to dismiss those engaged in corruption.
Despite the flagging of several agencies by the COA, several offices have been given high audit ratings, including the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco also shared that they have received an “unmodified opinion” from COA for the sixth time.
“Ito ang pinakamataas na audit rating na ibinibigay sa mga ahensya at tanggapan ng gobyerno. Sa buong Metro Manila, tayo lamang ang LGU na may ganitong record,” he said. – AG- jlo
