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...
“We are very happy to come up with this legislation ensuring protection for more areas in our megadiverse country. We have to take action about its protection because any damage or loss will cost too much for a country such as ours.” Senator Cynthia Villar, author the E-NIPAS Act. A...
Senator Imelda “Imee” Marcos on Sunday, August 15 expressed doubts the Department of Health (DOH) was able to release the funds for the special risk allowances for healthcare workers despite Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s pronouncements. Marcos made the statement amid Duque’s...
Seven senators have urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to push the deadline for voter registration from September 30 to October 31. A first-time voter registers at the Commission on Election (Comelec) office in Pasay City. (PNA) Senators Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon,...
Senators on Thursday, August 12 welcomed the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) decision to reactivate delisted voters noting this is a “good move” from the poll body ahead of the May 2022 national elections. “This is a welcome development. We expect Comelec to thoroughly cleanse the...
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday pressed for a Senate inquiry into the Commission on Audit’s (COA) discovery of mismanagement in the Department of Health’s (DOH) handling of P67.32-billion worth of funds for COVID-19 pandemic response, saying the deluge of deficiencies that...