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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH vows cooperation, support in COA's special audit of Covid-19 deals

DOH vows cooperation, support in COA's special audit of Covid-19 deals

Published Dec 2, 2022 05:03 pm

The Department of Health (DOH) ensured on Friday, Dec. 2 that it will support and cooperate with the special audit of loans for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines.

Covid-19 vaccines (MANILA BULLETIN)

This was in relation to some documents that have not been provided by the agency during the time of former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III wherein he cited the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the vaccine suppliers.

In a press conference, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire disclosed that the funds that the government used in procuring vaccines came from different loans with multilateral organizations.

She also clarified that the agency proactively asked for a special audit from the Commission on Audit (COA) since both the World Bank and Asian Development Bank asked for it.

DOH said in an earlier statement that it sent a letter to COA in September to request a special audit and that the department chose COA to be its auditing firm in the agreements.

“So rest assured that the DOH is well aware of the commitments that it needs to uphold as it relates to the loans we secured for the Covid-19 vaccine procurements, and that it will continue to be proactive in ensuring that our taxpayers’ money is well-spent,” it added.

Regarding the documents, Vergeire explained that there are exemptions stated in the NDAs such as if it is required by or it is required for auditing, it can be shared.

She added that they just need to make sure that they will not be violating anything in the agreement.

"Pinag-usapan na po ito ng mga (This has been discussed by our) legal experts natin para (so that) we're not going to be in violation of this NDA. But primarily and certainly the DOH will support and will cooperate in this kind of audit process," she said.

Related Tags

department of health DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire covid-19 deals Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 vaccines Commission on Audit (COA) special audit
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