President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to explain the reported “deficiencies” found by the Commission on Audit (COA) in the agency’s handling of PHP67.32 billion in Covid-19 funds in 2020, Malacañang said on Thursday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte is “withholding judgment” until after the DOH submits an explanation on the questionable handling of funds and COA releases its final audit report. “Ang instruction ng Presidente sagutin mabuti ang mga observation ng COA (The President’s instruction is for the DOH to answer COA’s observations),” Roque said in a Palace press briefing. He assured that Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of funds worth PHP3.78 billion for low-income households in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), an official from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday. In a message to reporters, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said this includes PHP2.72 billion for Laguna and PHP700 million for Bataan. These two provinces were placed under the strictest quarantine status on Aug. 6 and 8, respectively. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region will also receive a PHP368 million supplemental budget for the grant of the financial assistance. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año earlier
President Rodrigo Duterte did not launch tirades against Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Malacañang said on Thursday. This, after the opposition Makabayan lawmakers on Wednesday said it is “disgraceful” that Duterte is launching verbal attacks against Domagoso “Wala po akong narinig na pambabatikos laban kay Mayor Isko na nanggaling sa bibig ni Presidente (I did not hear any insult against Mayor Isko that came from the President’s mouth),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference. In his pre-recorded Talk to the People aired Monday night, Duterte took a swipe at an unnamed “mayor” in Metro
The government is on track in its commitment to provide a monthly allocation of 4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the National Capital Region (NCR) and other high risks provinces, Secretary Carlito Galvez Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19, assured Thursday. Galvez, who is also the vaccine czar, welcomed the arrival of 2 million doses of government-procured Sinovac vaccines, at 7:20 p.m. at the Bay 49 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Parañaque City. Half of the newly delivered vaccines will be given to NCR, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao,
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said his office is adopting a skeleton workforce after four of his personnel have been tested positive for Covid-19. Of this number, he said only one employee needed hospitalization. He, however, made assurances that he did not come in close contact with any of the employees who got infected. “Wala po akong kahit anong close contact sa kanila kasi skeleton workforce lang po kami dito sa Office of the Presidential Spokesperson. Sa ngayong araw po parang siyam na tao lang po ang naririto ngayon sa aking tanggapan (I have not made close contact with
Government and private buildings and other structures here remained safe following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake early on Thursday that affected parts of Mindanao. Dr. Agripino Dacera Jr., head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said they have not recorded any damage so far related to the quake on government buildings and facilities as well as private establishments in the area. He said they immediately dispatched their responders to conduct an initial assessment after the temblor hit the area at 1:46 a.m. “There were no reported accidents, casualties, or any damage to property as a result of the
