DOH asked DBM-PS to buy vaccines but was declined

In 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) requested the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (DBM-PS) to procure vaccines but was declined due to DBM-PS's lack of capability.

Jasonmer Uayan, DBM-PS Officer-in-Charge, confirmed during a House public accounts panel hearing that DBM-PS lacks expertise in handling and distributing vaccines.

Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate disclosed that DOH had also requested the Government Procurement Policy Board to consider COVID-19 vaccines as commonly-used supplies.