A multi-sectoral group hit the Department of Health (DOH) for "deficiencies" in P67-billion coronavirus disease (COVID-19) funds, saying it's a "clear disregard" for people's health and wellbeing. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN) The DOH has been under public scrutiny recently after the Commission on...
Despite the Commission on Audit’s (COA) clarification that it is “premature” to conclude that the P67 billion worth of “deficiencies” it found in the Department of Health’s (DOH) handling of pandemic funds is linked to corruption, Vice President Leni Robredo has flagged the unspent 2020...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay The unprecedented performance of our athletes at the just-concluded Tokyo Olympic Games has given us a much-needed respite from the non-stop barrage of depressing news. We emerged from the Games with one historic gold courtesy of weightlifter...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay We are only halfway through 2021, but this year may yet be our annus horribilis , a horrible year of death and decay, of a spiralling descent into a prolonged period of uncertainty for millions of Filipinos. This week, Metro Manila and other...
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) backed President Duterte in renewing his call to Congress to pass the E-Governance Act that would aim to help the public transact with the government during the coronavirus pandemic. Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director-General Jeremiah Belgica (Photo from...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay We are finding out quite belatedly that the first case of the Delta variant was recorded as early as April, but confirmed only last week by the Department of Health (DOH). Since April, the variant has spread to other parts of the country. The...
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has vowed to “constantly develop and re-engineer” its current mechanisms in providing social protection services to Filipinos, especially the vulnerable and poor sectors. (Photo from DSWD) DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista made...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay Messaging has never been this administration’s strongest point. This has been evident since day one of the government-enforced lockdown, when unclear and conflicting directives from senior officials only added to the fear, confusion, and...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay Since last year, government has stubbornly refused all appeals to provide another round of cash aid or “ayuda” on the grounds that it did not have the money. Then we learn that government failed to utilize P18 billion in funds already...
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is calling for entries to this year’s Digital Governance Awards (DGA). Photo from DICT's Facebook page The DGA is an annual search for best practices in local government units in utilizing information and communications technology...
The Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI), central procurement arm for all government agencies in the importation of drugs and medicines, has been absorbing huge losses in the past 14 years and was apparently untapped in the multi-billion importation of vaccines and vital pharmaceuticals needed...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay In many countries, the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant is forcing their respective governments to rethink and recalibrate their decision to allow people to gather and relax health measures such as the wearing of face masks in public....
