The alleged overpriced personal protective equipment (PPEs) procured by the Duterte administration was bought at a “cheaper” price, the Department of Health (DOH) claimed Tuesday.
In a statement, the DOH said that the PPE sets purchased by the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) cost between P1,700 to P2,000 or cheaper than the allocated budget of P2,000 per unit.
The agency issued the remark as lawmakers scrutinize the purchase of at least P8.6 billion worth of face masks, face shields, and PPEs from foreign firm Pharmally.
The Senate is probing as to why Pharmally, which had a paid-up capital worth around P625,000, was able to secure billions worth of government contracts involving pandemic supplies.
Senator Franklin Drilon also said Pharmally allegedly sold face masks at a P27.72, while the same item was sold by other suppliers to PS-DBM at P13.5, P16, and P17.50 during the same period in 2020.
It likewise sold test kits at a price of P1,720 when the kits can be bought at P925.
Drilon added that the firm sold the PPEs P1,910 each when the cost of the material in the market cost is at P945.
Malacañang had denied that the Duterte administration bought overpriced PPE amid the pandemic, saying the Aquino administration bought PPEs at a higher cost.
For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson‘s comment was that the Philippines is a ruined nation if its government fails to see the irregularity in the supposedly overpriced PPEs.
The health department said the PPEs meet the standard of the World Health Organization.
“Additionally, the PPE sets delivered were inspected, verified, and found to be in order and conformity with the technical specifications set,” it said.
“The DOH did not receive any complaints from healthcare workers on the quality of the PPE sets procured,” it added.
The DOH said that the PPE sets include suits, gloves, N95 mask, head cover, shoe cover, surgical mask, surgical gown, apron, and face shield. — BAP, GMA News
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