FILE. Health Secretary Francisco Duque. PHOTO

The Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2020 report made public yesterday that the Department of Health (DOH) did not comply with existing laws and regulations in managing some P67.323 billion in COVID-19 response funds.

COA also question DOH purchases worth P5.038 billion due to lack of documentation and had procedural deficiencies, acts that violated the Government Procurement Reform Act.

.The deficiencies noted were purchases found to be disadvantageous to the government amounting to P194.403 million, as well as defects in the sworn statements in contracts, non-posting of procurement information on government website and non-provision of technical specifications in contracts.

At least P69.942 million worth of medical equipment and supplies were also procured but remained unutilized or were not immediately used due to factors that could have been avoided if proper procurement planning was followed, COA added.

Liquidated damages totaling P4.49 million were also not applied against payments to suppliers, which denied the government immediate means to enforce compensation.

Some P275.908 million in the form of cash allowances, gift certificates, and grocery items also did not have legal basis.

In-kind donations amounting to around P1.405 billion were also not properly documented, COA said.

The report also noted some P11.89 billion were unobligated, despite an urgent need to strengthen the capacity of the DOH to address the pandemic.

“This condition affects the utilization of COVID-19 funds vis-a-vis the agency’s implementation capabilities and its response to the urgent healthcare needs during the time of state of calamity/national emergency,” the report noted.

Continuous audit also disclosed additional deficiencies in the aggregate amount of P1.036 billion.

The deficiencies noted were improper charging of transactions, utilization of funds not for intended purposes, and low or zero utilization of funds amounting to P488.953 million.

There were also “doubtful liquidations” of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) claims credited against the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism funds amounting to P81.818 million.

The report noted that Health Secretary Francisco Duque was requested to implement the recommendations made by the auditors, among them to remind DOH officials to strictly comply with existing procurement laws and regulations through the issuance of a memorandum.

The auditors also recommended that the DOH conduct a thorough investigation on the irregularities through its internal audit service and impose proper administrative sanctions if needed.

Duque was likewise reminded that his officials and employees should ensure that all transactions are adequately supported with the required documents.

The commission said Duque’s office received its 302-page report on July 30, 2021.

The DOH said it is “currently addressing the said compliance issues and deficiencies.”

Of the P79.7 billion COVID-19 funds given to the DOH, P68.9 billion have been utilized as of December 31, 2020, the agency said.

“With the enactment of RA No. 11519 extending the availability of appropriations under Bayanihan II, the Department was still able to utilize the unobligated balance for this year,” the statement read.

The DOH always “take our COA findings very seriously” and has been “working to further improve our processes and controls,” Duque said.

“The Php 67.3 billion is accounted for. Wala pong kinurakot, inilaan natin ang mga pondong ito para sa ating mga kababayan,” the Health Secretary said in a statement.

(There is no corruption, all these funds were allocated for our countrymen.)

“Rest assured, that the funds allotted to the DOH are all spent for the procurement of test kits, PPEs, payment of HCWs benefits, salaries of HRH among others,” he said.

“Bukas po ang aming tanggapan at handa po kaming ipakita sa ating mga kababayan na tama ang paggastos ng kanilang mga taxes.”

(Our agency is open and we are ready to show our countrymen that we are properly spending their taxes.)