Detained Senator Leila De Lima has called on the Senate to probe the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for failing to disburse funds to COVID-19 hit public utility drivers (PUV) under the Service Contracting Program. In filing Senate Resolution NO. 862, De Lima said the...
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday, August 22 appealed to fellow lawmakers to maintain objectivity as they seek the truth about the government’s COVID-19 response, saying they should not pass judgment too early without knowing all the facts. Go, who chairs the Senate health committee...
The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed readiness to attend a Senate inquiry on its readiness for school opening this incoming school year (SY) 2021-2022. (DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) “Yes, we will attend the inquiry,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Nepomuceno Malaluan told the Manila...
A former budget official is willing to face a Senate inquiry following questions raised about government's procurement of certain medical supplies when the pandemic hit last year. Former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao addresses issues related to the purchase of medical supplies during...
Senator Grace Poe on Friday, August 20, vowed to make sure that government funds for 2022 will used and will not be given to agencies that fail to properly spend it. Senator Grace Poe (Senate of the Philippines/MANILA BULLETIN File photo) "Underspending, delayed and wasteful spending of COVID-19...
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque defended himself after he expressed confusion during the Senate hearing last Wednesday, Aug. 18, on his agency’s handling of COVID-19 funds. On Wednesday’s...
The Senate will resume plenary sessions next week even if the government decides to extend the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila. Senate President Vicente Sotto III bangs the gavel to resume their hybrid plenary session on May 17, 2021. (Joseph Vidal/Senate...
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Thursday, August 19, that he was not convinced with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's explanations on the issues in his department's in handling COVID-19 response funds. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (Senate PRIB) "No I'm not," Sotto said in a...
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that private hospitals are responsible for the release of special risk allowance (SRA) and other benefits for health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Malacañang photo) The Department of Health (DOH) chief was...
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday pressed Lloyd Christopher Lao, a former aide of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, to explain to the Senate the circumstances behind the Department of Health’s (DOH) transfer of P42.4-billion budget to the Department of Budget and Management’s...
Shouldn't Health Secretary Francisco Duque III be suspended, at least, over the reported deficiencies of his agency in spending COVID-19 funds? Secretary Francisco Duque III Senator Grace Poe posed this question as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee opened its inquiry on the Department of Health's...
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday defended the Commission on Audit (COA) after President Duterte told his Cabinet to ignore the state auditors’ report after flagging the deficiencies in the Department of Health’s (DOH) handling of the P67-billion worth of COVID-19...
