‘Malicious, inaccurate’: Galvez, COVID-19 task force chief implementer, explains P20B is for 11 million PPE, not 3 million

This is in response to separate articles which came out in two news publications. Both focused on the national government’s ongoing procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs). The first one is a news story published by Rappler on May 9, 2020, entitled “Galvez: Gov’t procures 3 million PPE sets worth P20 billion for June-August.” The second article is an editorial piece which came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) on May 13, 2020, entitled “Rip-off?”

In the Rappler article, I was quoted as saying: “The procurement for another three million PPE sets worth P20 billion is ongoing and this will cover June to August. We are stockpiling on PPE sets because this COVID-19 might last until 2021.”

I am disappointed because the above-mentioned articles they published are malicious and an inaccurate portrayal of my original statement. Not only was I misquoted, but the said articles also cast a cloud of doubt not only on the integrity of the National Task Force against COVID-19 but on government as a whole.

I would like to call on Rappler and PDI to review the transcript of my May 9 interview to set the record straight and put things in their proper context. In fact, I am planning to take legal action against these media outlets if these issues are not clarified.

As the Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan on COVID-19, I would like to put on record that the P20 billion I mentioned during the May 9 interview in Davao City is not for the purchase of the three (3) million sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) alone but for 11 million complete PPE sets.

The 3 million PPEs that was cited in the Rappler and PDI articles are actually part of the first tranche of the 11 million PPEs worth P20 billion to be purchased by the Philippine government. The 3 million PPEs are being stockpiled for the months of June up to August this year.

As I explained during the interview, the other remaining PPEs to be purchased under the P20-billion budget is part of the government’s effort to stockpile PPEs and other essential medical supplies and equipment until 2021.

The price of a complete PPE set is around P1,818, way below from the “P6,667” price cited by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in their editorial.

These PPEs are of Level 4 quality. They include a medical-grade PPEs suit, military-grade goggles, a face mask, and shoe and head covers which are designed to provide full protection to our medical frontliners. These are the same suits that the government earlier gave to the medical staff of the Philippine General Hospital who said that they are very comfortable and safe. The procurement of these 3 million PPEs is already in the pipeline under the program of the Department of Health through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.

As we know, there is a shortage of PPEs in the global market. And common sense dictates that it is simply impossible and too risky to source out 11 million PPEs worth P20 billion from a single supplier on a single transaction. These PPEs will be sourced through a combination of purchases—both from international manufacturers and local producers.

We would like to assure the Filipino people that the purchase of these PPEs and medical supplies had undergone a very rigid procurement process with the assurance that we will provide the highest medical standard as we emphasized in our National Action Plan on COVID-19 that one of the imperatives are the protection and preservation of our health care workers and frontliners.

As President Rodrigo Duterte has time and again emphasized, he will not tolerate any anomalous transactions in government. We, in the NTF, will make sure that the President’s directives are fully implemented as we continue to fight this disease.

Finally, a message to PDI. During my younger days, I held your paper in high regard. However, in recent years, I and other colleagues started to lose faith and respect in your publication.

Why, you may say? Because your paper seems to have forgotten that objectivity, fairness and accuracy are the bedrock of true journalism. With the editorial I cited, you have not only failed to live up to your slogan, but have resorted to sensationalism and tabloid journalism.

Through all the years I have served in the military and as a public servant, I have always treasured honor and moral integrity. As I often said: “A man without honor is dead.”

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer,

National Task Force Against COVID-19