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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider 'Check if PPEs were priced right', Villanueva urges

'Check if PPEs were priced right', Villanueva urges

Published Apr 1, 2020 12:00 am
By Mario B. Casayuran Senator Joel Villanueva said on Wednesday the congressional oversight committee should examine the allegation made by Senator Grace Poe that the personal protective equipment (PPE) bought by the Department of Health (DOH) were overpriced by as much as P1.4 billion. Senator Joel Villanueva gestures during the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development hearing on the deaths of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), February 21,2018.(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN) Senator Joel Villanueva (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The PPE is being used by health workers in taking care of patients afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘’We know that the global demand for this equipment is increasing, and naturally, prices will increase and will be greater than what they used to be before the pandemic,’’ Villanueva said. ‘’But it is also worth examining to see if the price is reasonable. A little penny pinching of the government still goes a long way to stretch our budget and help provide for all our people, especially those in the frontlines and the most vulnerable, like (those belonging to) the no work, no pay sector,’’ he added. The DOH earlier stated it bought P1.8 billion worth of PPE for health workers in government hospitals in Luzon. Each set reportedly cost P1,300 ($35) each. But Poe maintained that each PPE should cost from P400 toP1,000. She said that the office of Vice President Leni Robredo bought PPE at P400 ($8) each.  
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