![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture2.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHealth Secretary Francisco Duque III asserted on Saturday, August 14, that no money was stolen after the Commission on Audit (COA) released its annual audit report on the Department of Health (DOH) that noted some deficiencies involving more than \u20b1 67 billion of Coronavirus 2019 response funds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Duque, the DOH is still gathering the pertinent documents that would clarify the deficiencies. This was after President Rodrigo Duterte urged the DOH on Thursday to respond to COA\u2019s report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou will be assured that no money went into corruption. None was stolen. I am sure of that,\u201d he said in an interview with DZMM also on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier on Wednesday, the COA released its annual report on DOH that stated the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Deficiencies worth \u20b1 67,323,186,570.57 aggravated the challenges of the current pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Pieces of equipment amounting to \u20b1 1,225,260,566.29 acquired under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) were either undelivered, unused, and\/or without calibration and preventive maintenance. Also, various HFEP infrastructure projects costing \u20b1 2,832,390,057.53 were either unoccupied or deferred in execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 There were deficiencies worth \u20b1 65,356,720.70 in the dispersal of centrally-procured assets to numerous Operating Units (OUs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Drugs, medicine, and other kinds of inventories amounting to \u20b1 95,675,058.98 were discovered to be practically expired or expired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Allotment totaling \u20b1 24,641,119,764.42 as of December 31, 2020, which was supposed to strengthen the Department\u2019s capability to deliver basic public health services, was unspent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Funds worth \u20b1 306,734,289.77 allocated to the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) were unutilized; inadequate programs were implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Only \u20b1 63,467,670.77 or 37.43% of \u20b1169,578,991.42, which is the 25% allotted hospital income of four OUs for the acquisition of equipment and upgrading hospital facilities, was used. One OU had even devoted only \u20b1 4,102,375.65 out of \u20b1 116,037,875.84 or merely 3.54% of its hospital income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Money totaling \u20b1 441,239,379.94 stayed unremitted to the National Treasury despite law and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 The absence of documentation of various contracts in the total of at least \u20b1 3,967,249,291.33 was against the provision of RA No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and its RIRR (Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 The expenditure of several OUs worth \u20b1 557,699,748.22 was against the established rules, guidelines, policies, and principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The COA clarified its report on Friday, after the backlash, that it is still premature to claim that there is corruption since the DOH still has the chance to submit untransmitted documents. Nevertheless, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco asked the COA on Sunday for a briefing within the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Thursday that the Malaca\u00f1ang acknowledged the issue as serious. However, in the President\u2019s pre-recorded weekly national address aired on Monday night, Duterte expressed that the DOH can\u2019t steal \u20b1 67.3 billion. He attributed the deficiencies to unfinished documentation; he insisted not to oust Duque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The President also told that COA\u2019s annual audit reports can taint the government with \u2018corruption by perception\u2019 that can mislead the public. He advised the state auditing agency to let the government officials finish their projects before the annual auditing. The COA stated also today that it cannot give responses apart from its audit reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not the first time to have an issue among Duterte, Duque, and the COA. In July, Duterte defended Duque amid the failing pandemic response despite some Cabinet officials wished Duque dismissed. Duterte has also joked during the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order in Pasay City in 2019 about abducting and torturing COA executives since COA made things \u2018difficult.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the increasing Covid-19 cases, new Lambda variant, alleged corruption within the DOH, and unreleased benefits, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) announced on Monday that a group of public and private health workers is considering, once more, a mass protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Featured image courtesy of Panay News.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COA clarified its report on Friday, after the backlash, that it is still premature to claim that there is corruption since the DOH still has the chance to submit untransmitted documents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":1687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,11],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-1678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/duque-696x547-1-1.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1646,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/12\/coa-flags-doh-for-poor-management-of-p67-billion-covid-19-funds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1678,"position":0},"title":"COA flags DOH for poor management of P67 billion COVID-19 funds","author":"Staff","date":"12 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Commission on Audit (COA) released its 2020 report last August 11, Wednesday, indicating the Department of Health\u2019s (DOH) mismanagement of COVID-19 funds worth P67-billion. The Commission on Audit (COA) released its 2020 report last August 11, Wednesday, indicating the Department of Health\u2019s (DOH) mismanagement of COVID-19 funds worth P67-billion.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20190814-senate-hearing-jc-1471.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20190814-senate-hearing-jc-1471.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20190814-senate-hearing-jc-1471.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20190814-senate-hearing-jc-1471.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1691,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/18\/pagbili-ng-napkin-sa-hardware-at-iba-pang-ginastos-ng-owwa-iniimbistigahan-ng-coa\/","url_meta":{"origin":1678,"position":1},"title":"Pagbili ng napkin sa hardware at iba pang ginastos ng OWWA, iniimbestigahan ng COA","author":"Staff","date":"18 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Nahaharap na naman sa anumalya ng katiwalian ang administrasyong Duterte matapos ilabas ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang kanilang rekord ukol sa gastos o hindi nagamit na pondo ng gobyerno. Nahaharap na naman sa anumalya ng katiwalian ang administrasyong Duterte matapos ilabas ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang kanilang rekord\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-4-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-4-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-4-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-4-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-4-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-4-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1663,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/16\/makabayan-bloc-files-resolution-to-investigate-misused-doh-funds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1678,"position":2},"title":"Makabayan bloc files resolution to investigate misused DOH funds","author":"Staff","date":"16 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives filed a resolution urging a probe on the Commission on Audit\u2019s (COA) 2020 report detailing the Department of Health\u2019s (DOH) misused COVID-19 response funds worth P67.3 billion. The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives filed a resolution urging a probe on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/14-senators-want-doh-secretary-duque-to-resign-immidiately-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/14-senators-want-doh-secretary-duque-to-resign-immidiately-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/14-senators-want-doh-secretary-duque-to-resign-immidiately-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/14-senators-want-doh-secretary-duque-to-resign-immidiately-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5951,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2023\/03\/15\/a-healthcare-system-left-untreated\/","url_meta":{"origin":1678,"position":3},"title":"A healthcare system left untreated","author":"Staff","date":"15 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Three years since the coronavirus paralyzed the world and Metro Manila went under lockdown, there is still no accountability for the bungled pandemic response. Aside from COVID and its devastating effects, the pandemic exposed a much larger issue \u2013 the healthcare system itself is sick, afflicted by the diseases of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cdo-14_2021-06-29_21-21-28-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cdo-14_2021-06-29_21-21-28-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cdo-14_2021-06-29_21-21-28-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cdo-14_2021-06-29_21-21-28-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cdo-14_2021-06-29_21-21-28-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1763,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/24\/with-legacy-on-the-line-duterte-formally-accepts-pdp-laban-vp-nomination\/","url_meta":{"origin":1678,"position":4},"title":"With legacy on the line, Duterte formally accepts PDP-Laban VP nomination","author":"Staff","date":"24 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Incumbent President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has now formally accepted the nomination of his political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino \u2013 Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), to run as Vice-President for the coming 2022 Philippine General Election. Incumbent President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has now formally accepted the nomination of his political party, Partido\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture2-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture2-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture2-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5068,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/08\/02\/coa-over-p4-5-billion-deficiencies-in-deped-distance-learning-budget\/","url_meta":{"origin":1678,"position":5},"title":"COA: Over P4.5 billion deficiencies in DepEd distance learning budget","author":"Staff","date":"2 August 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Commission on Audit flagged P4.527 million worth of deficiencies in the utilization of funds in the Department of Education\u2019s (DepEd) budget intended for the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) for school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Despite this and the ongoing educational crisis amid the pandemic, DepEd insisted on its\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News Features"","block_context":{"text":"News Features","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/news-features\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sinag-web-banner-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sinag-web-banner-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sinag-web-banner-6.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sinag-web-banner-6.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sinag-web-banner-6.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sinag-web-banner-6.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":122,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"csspsinag","display_name":"Staff","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/194807626fee183640d3de57e788ba7c8c0d40bd86bfc1237bed56bcd3832c1b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1678"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n