Congress’ job

Senate is investigating Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) regarding the procurement of allegedly overpriced personal protective equipment by DBM-PS on behalf of the Department of Health.

There have been many investigations conducted by Congress. Congress investigates everything. It will investigate any agency of the government for an alleged overprice on the purchase of goods, the transaction is disadvantageous to the government, the purchase was not in line with the procurement law and the likes.

The primary function of Congress, Senate, and the House of Representative, is to create laws; it is using its investigation power hoping that during the investigation it can legislate something to address the issues tackled during the investigation --investigation in aid of legislation.

We have seen this investigation a thousand times already, from the previous administrations to the present, and yet the procurement law of the Philippines has not changed. It has always been a purchase now and investigate later scenario. We hope that this time Congress can legislate something to address this issue and not waste the resources of the government in conducting this investigation.

We hope that after the inquiry Congress will not only recommend the filing of appropriate charges against those involved because the filing of appropriate charges can be done without grandstanding at a Senate or a House of Representative hearing to gain media mileage for the purposes of this incoming national election.

Edison Quiñanola

Inayawan, Cebu City