PINAIIMBESTIGAHAN ni Anakalusugan Partylist Representative Mike Defensor ang umanoy “overpricing” sa pagbili ng Quezon City government sa face shield na sobra sa halagang P27million.
Batay sa inihaing House Resolution number 2143 ni Defensor, Disyembre ng taong 2020 nang makabili ang QC-LGU ng nasa 400,000 piraso ng face shield na nagkakahalaga ng P27 million.
Ang kada piraso ng ordinaryong plastic face shield ay napag-alamang nasa P67.50.
Subalit iginigiit ng kongresista na sobra umano ang presyo ng halaga na nasa 600% kumpara sa P10 lamang sa Binondo, Maynila sa kaparehong panahon.
“We note that in usual business practice, a bulk sale results in a lower than normal price per unit in consideration of the high volume procurement,” Pahayag ni Defensor sa kanyang resolusyon.
“In the case of QC’s procurement of face shields, there was an almost P60 premium paid per unit; a practice which is contrary to the policy set forth in the Constitution and R.A. 6713 that there be no wastage in public funds and revenues,” giit pa nito.
Pero paliwanag naman ni City Legal Office Chief Atty. Orlando Casimiro, wala umanong basehan ang akusasyon laban sa kanila ni Defensor at iginigiit na may “bahid” ang pagsusulong nito para sila imbestigahan.
Ipinunto ni Casimiro na ang pagbili nila sa face shield ay isinagawa matapos ang paglabas ng IATF resolution noong Disyembre 14, 2020 sa mandatory sa pagsusuot ng face shields sa ilalim ng lega sanctions.
“This triggered the immediate necessity to provide our citizens with the means to comply therewith, especially the poor. Along with other factors, this caused a surge in demand and a sharp spike in prices,” ayon kay Casimiro. “Effectively, therefore, Quezon City acquired them at half the price. We procured this under an emergency bidding process, due to the IATF Resolution, wherein there were other qualified participants, and we selected the lowest price as mandated by law,” saad pa nito.