Newspapers: Thurs., Sept.17, 2020- Government lost P1 billion in overpriced PPE deals – Hontiveros

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020 Contributor 0 Comment Government lost P1 billion in overpriced PPE deals – Hontiveros, Newspapers: Thurs. Sept.17 2020

Government lost P1 billion in overpriced PPE deals – Hontiveros

HONTIVEROS LOOKS INTO CHINESE PROSTITUTION DENS: Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, presides over a public hearing Tuesday, 28 January 2020 on the proliferation of human trafficking activities in the country brought about by the influx of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

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MANILA, Philippines — The government may have lost at least P1 billion in taxpayer money after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) purchased allegedly overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE) from five Chinese companies, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday.

Hontiveros made the claim two days after Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon flagged the Procurement Service of the DBM (PS-DBM) for supposedly buying COVID-19 test kits and other medical equipment that were more expensive by more than P400 million than those procured by private groups.

Worse, she said, the PS-DBM awarded the multibillion-peso supply contracts for PPE within a two-month period to the Chinese companies instead of giving these to local manufacturers, which had already been complaining about the government’s preference for imported face masks and medical coveralls.

READ MORE: .https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1336389/risa-govt-lost-p1b-in-overpriced-ppe-deals

By: Marlon Ramos –

Philippine Daily Inquirer