DOH addresses COA findings on P67.32B COVID-19 funds

The Department of Health (DOH) stated that many of the significant findings from the Commission on Audit's (COA) 2020 report have been addressed.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega assured the public that no funds were misused, emphasizing that the COA report is not yet final and deficiencies can still be rectified.

COA had previously flagged the DOH for deficiencies in the use of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds during 2020.

Specifically, P11.89 billion in allotments remained unobligated by the end of 2020, but Vega clarified that these funds were not wasted.

He explained that through continuing appropriations from Bayanihan 2 funds, P4.2 billion (83%) of P5.1 billion was utilized by June 2021.

These utilized funds supported emergency hiring of health workers, benefits for healthcare workers such as Special Risk Allowance and death and sickness compensation, and the procurement of medicines and supplies.