‘PRICEY VITAMINS’: Bacolod’s P113-M COVID-19 budget questioned

By Dolly Yasa 

 

BACOLOD City – City Councilor Wilson Gamboa said on Tuesday that concerned city government agencies should explain the P113-million budget for the acquisition of medical items to be used in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Gamboa also questioned the pricing of the items to be acquired such as vitamin C, face shields, face masks, among others.

Gamboa said he manifested his concern during their special session on Saturday.

He cited for instance the price of Vitamin C with zinc at P2,250 per box adding “he just bought it for P390.”

Gamboa also said that “1 gallon of alcohol priced at P1,500 can be bought at P599, face shield’s price is only at P50 while theirs is 100, among others.”

Gamboa said the budget will be spent by the City Health Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, City Engineering Office and the Department of Social Services and Development.

Gamboa also asked for an audit of the at least P500 million budget intended for the fight against COVID-19.

He lamented that he had been asking how the budget was utilized since April but to no avail.

Gamboa also said that there is still about P200 million for COVID-19 concerns but this was not utilized yet.

“So why the additional allocation. I am appalled and ruffled. Aanhin mo ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo. Budget not used efficiently, timely and optimally can never have an effective result in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gamboa said.

Dr. Carmela Gensoli of the City Health Office said they were just proposing the price for the vitamins.

Gensoli said they usually set higher prices in the purchase request to avoid falling short of the budget.

“Syempre kon ga request ka mataas-taas ang imo price kon kulang na karon sin o manabon, ako?” she said.

She also said that the purchase will undergo competitive bidding.

But Gamboa said that with the country under a state of calamity, local government units can make emergency purchases which do not need bidding.