DOH faces questions on possible double payment for face shields

The Department of Health (DOH) is under scrutiny for potentially making a double payment for face shields.

Senators Vicente Sotto III, Franklin Drilon, and Panfilo Lacson questioned Health Secretary Francisco Duque III about this during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

The core issue is whether the DOH paid the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for face shields that were already acquired and paid for using funds previously transferred by the DOH to the PS-DBM.

The PS-DBM procured 1.3 million face shields at P120 each from Philippine Blue Cross Biotech Corporation.

Health Undersecretary Carol Taiño confirmed the DOH procured face shields from PS-DBM at P124 per piece, but was unsure of the fund source.

Senator Drilon highlighted that these procured face shields should have been part of the P42 billion transferred funds, making the additional purchase a potential "double payment" as emphasized by Senator Lacson.