Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Michael Aguinaldo has expressed his backing for the calls to abolish the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) and the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service (DBM-PS), to address issues in government procurements.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's hearing on Friday, September 10, Aguinaldo said he personally supports the proposals filed by lawmakers for the abolition of the PITC and the DBM-PS.

"Personally, from what I've seen, I would join the -- I think there were several bills that have been filed seeking the abolition of PITC and the PS-DBM. I think it's hightime that we look at how we procure," Aguialdo said when asked on his view on the perfomance of the two government procurement bodies.

"One of the criticisms of Republic Act No. 984 is that it's too focused on accountability, at the expense of deficiency, so maganda siguro may konting (maybe it would be better if there is a bit of) balance. You know, balance and efficiency with accountability," he told legislators.

Aguinaldo particularly called for review on the procurement of so-called common use supplies and equipment (CSEs), which has been a subject of scrutiny by the Senate following the transfer of some P42 billion from the Department of Health (DOH) to the DBM-PS for buying COVID-19 supplies.

Personal protective equipment (PPEs), face masks, face shields, and some pandemic response-related equipment have been identified as CSEs.

"To make it less, perhaps, susceptible to you know, any kind of alleged corruption and the like," he said, adding that he would be "very willing" to provide inputs for the senators' consideration.

Senators are mulling a review of the procedures in the government's purchases thru the PITC and DBM-PS following the alleged overpricing of medical supplies bought during the pandemic.

Senator Imee Marcos filed two bills seeking to abolish both the PITC and the DBM-PS.