Duterte wants probe into alleged overpriced COVID-19 tests, equipment
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte wants a probe into alleged overpriced COVID-19 equipment, his spokesperson said Friday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with radio dzMM that the president is “bothered” by the supposed discrepancy in prices of COVID-19 testing kit bought by the private sector, against the purchase of the government.
“He wants answers... and investigation,” Roque added.
“He (Duterte), like the rest of the public, does not understand why the discrepancy (in prices) is that wide,” the presidential spokesman also said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday flagged the Department of Health’s purchase of nucleic acid extraction machines which are used to test for COVID-19 from American manufacturer Kingfisher for P4 million while the private sector purchased machines from Chinese firm Sansure for less than half the cost at P1.75 million.
He also questioned DOH’s spending of $32 on each swabbing kit when they can be bought from Chinese firms for $12 per kit.
Private groups can purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for P1,079 a piece, or P900 less than what the government pays.
Roque earlier said he would refer the matter to Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, as he cited “conflict of interest” due to the pendency of cases that he, as a private lawyer, filed against the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Overpriced COVID-19 testing
Sen. Franklin Drilon earlier questioned the COVID-19 test package priced at P8,150 saying it was overpriced.
In a statement Friday, Drilon welcomed the move of PhilHealth to cut the price of its COVID-19 test package by half, which now costs P4,210 according to the senator.
The senator however insisted that PhilHealth could still set the price at P3,500, which is the amount the Philippine Red Cross set for the test, or even lower.
“If COVID-19 tests could be done for as low as P3,500 as proven by Red Cross, which emerged as the lead testing center for COVID-19, then there is no justification for higher rates set by PhilHealth,” he said in a statement, Friday.
"This is a victory for better governance and anticorruption drive. Our triumph has proven that our collective voice is stronger than ever. It is critical to be more vigilant against corrupt practices during the time of a pandemic," Drilon also said.
PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales said the state insurer will review its existing benefit package for COVID-19 patients and will release new and lower rates next week. — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from Bella Perez-Rubio
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the bill that grants him special powers to address the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines. Bookmark this page for updates.
Strategies proposed by the inter-agency taskforce against the COVID-19 pandemic need the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says.
He made the statement after news of a shift to "granular" lockdowns that will be first implemented in the National Capital Region starting September 8.
The government should extend 'Bayanihan 2', the legislation intended to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akbayan says as it joins the call of labor groups SENTRO and NAGKAISA for an extension.
"Millions of Filipinos are still without work thanks to the pandemic. Add the fact that the country is under recession for the first time since the Marcos years, and it becomes imperative that the State step in and continue to provide aid," the party-list says.
"We echo the view that terminating Bayanihan 2 now will push more Filipino families towards hunger and desperation. The government must realize that without a sustained comprehensive economic aid plan, people will be forced to leave their houses to get food, medicine and supplies, which increases the risk of getting COVID. And with hotspots multiplying outside the NCR, extending Bayanihan 2 is not only logical, but necessary," it also says.
The government should increase efforts to inform people about the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 instead of threatening to jail those who refuse or telling them to leave the country, Akbayan says.
"Mr. Rodrigo Duterte cannot jail his way out of this pandemic. Neither can he expel COVID-19 by throwing out of the country Filipinos who are hesitant of the vaccines. It is both sad and ironic that in the middle of a catastrophe, the President is so quick to threaten to expel his own people, yet chooses to remain silent on Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea," Dr. RJ Naguit, Akbayan spokesperson, says in a release.
"The global health crisis is not simply a law and order problem. The virus cannot be contained by penal servitude. This is exactly the simplistic and violent approach that continues to divide this country, the idea that there are only two kinds of people, those who obey, and those who don't. There is far more to this crisis than that," he says.
The government has often used the "pasaway" narrative, saying people are stubborn and do not follow guidelines, to explain surges in COVID-19 cases and other issues related to the pandemic. This, despite top government officials being among those often seen flouting the same safety guidelines.
Face shields are no longer required when leaving home, the Palace says.
People will still need to wear face shields in public transportation, markets and indoor establishments.
This change in policy comes after President Rodrigo Duterte told senators that the face shields should only be worn in hospital settings.
Prior to the president's remarks, agencies, inlcuding the Palace had insisted on the use of face shields, claiming wearing them over face masks is almost as good as being vaccinated against COVID-19.
A total of 1,415 golf workers in Metro Manila have received cash aid from the DOT and DOLE as part of the Bayanihan 2 act.
The golf caddies, golf workers and employees in five major golf clubs in the capital region received almost P7.075 million.
“For the beneficiaries of the cash assistance program with us today, I hope that this amount can help you and your families in this difficult time," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat says.
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