Watchdog questions price differences of Covid-19 supplies

CLAIMING to be an independent advocacy group and think- tank, Pinoy Aksyon is calling for transparency in connection with the surge in government spending on medical supplies amid the Covid-19 pandemic under the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Convenor Ben Cyrus Ellorin stated that the group wants to make sure that every single centavo is accounted for and it is important to know the suppliers that joined the bidding. He cited the case of Taiwan-based Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, which was awarded at least three contracts. One contract worth P54 million for 2.4 million pieces of surgical masks (disposable, ear loop, 3-ply, wired) with each one priced at P22.50. The two other were for BGI PCR 8,000 kits costing P75,000 for a total of P600 million and 2,000 A*Star Fortitude PCR kits costing P344,000 each for a total of P688 million.

Ellorin is asking why there is such a huge difference between the unit price of the A*Star Fortitude kits when compared to the BGI kits.

Meanwhile, the contract awarded to Pacific Field (Hong Kong) Ltd. for Sansure brand costs around P35,157 with a total price of over P146.4 million.

He added that the government must make sure that the equipment and supplies are bought at fair prices with the quality of the products need to be tested, like how Canada and the UK returned equipment and medical supplies that are substandard or defective.