Noy awaiting Ona explanation

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino confirmed yesterday that he made Health Secretary Enrique Ona go on a month-long leave to answer numerous concerns that needed to be cleared with regard to the country’s health programs.

Reliable Malacañang insiders said the Office of the President “prepared” Ona’s leave memorandum.

Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the Coca-Cola FEMSA bottling plant in Canlubang, Laguna, Aquino said Ona was not able to prepare the answers to questions on whether he was still hands-on in his day-to-day functions as secretary of health.

“So he asked for a leave to prepare the answers to these questions,” he said in Filipino.

Aquino said questions are being circulated, especially on the immunization program for children.

Ona is asking for time to prepare his explanations on what actually are the assumptions, he added.

Aquino practically confirmed everything that came out in The STAR yesterday, from the questionable proposed rehabilitation of the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa to contain the possible spread of Ebola virus in the country, to vaccination programs.

“We have questions to ask Secretary Ona, specifically about the vaccination campaign,” he said in Filipino. “We cannot immediately look for P600 million, especially that the proposed national budget is now with the Senate.”

The P600 million for the proposed RITM renovation was only P500 million when reported in the media following the threat of Ebola.

Aquino refused to categorically say, however, whether he plans to retain Ona or whether he still enjoys his trust and confidence as a member of his Cabinet.

However, he acknowledged the need to upgrade RITM.

It must undergo the usual process since budget allocations “do not come from thin air,” but need approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives, he added.