In the Senate, Senator Allan Peter Cayetano delivered a forceful objection. Direct and unreserved, he confronted the issue of vaccines and the management of the Department of Health (DOH). He began by acknowledging Senator Tulfo with respect, but did not hesitate to oppose what he called the DOH’s “classic” and unacceptable answers. He expressed frustration that delays in vaccines are a matter that affects the health of children and the future of the country.
He demanded a guarantee that by 2026, such delays would not happen again. He compared the Philippines to Cambodia and Laos, which, according to him, do not experience delays the way the Philippines does. He apologized to the Senate President for his tone, and shared information from his city health office: some vaccines cannot be purchased by LGUs because only the DOH is authorized to procure them. And when LGUs are allowed to buy, the prices are significantly higher, pushing them into heavier expenses.
Senator Allan emphasized that the DOH secretary himself admitted there are major procurement problems and that the agency’s procurement officer had already been dismissed. According to him, competition among bidders is intense—yet bidders must follow rules, not dictate the process in a way that causes delays. These delays, he warned, put children’s lives at risk.
He pointed out that some transactions had been done through UNICEF, citing a ₱1.2-billion release from February to July 2024, which the Senate had been discussing. He acknowledged that there had been a one-time purchase through UNICEF due to a measles outbreak, but that such arrangements were not supposed to be the norm. He expressed concern about conflicting information and demanded a clearer explanation from the DOH.
Drawing from his own experience in public service, he cited how problems in agencies like the DFA and LTO were solved with determination and proper action. He used these examples to stress that even deeply dysfunctional systems can be fixed when there is discipline and political will.
Senator Tulfo, for his part, raised concerns that some winning suppliers may be “fly-by-night” contractors, possibly incompetent or corrupt. He discussed the issue of expired medicines, explaining that the problem touches on asset management and supply chain failures. The DOH, he said, created a committee to address this issue—but he questioned whether logistics is truly the root problem, or whether incompetence and inefficiency are to blame. He criticized explanations that sounded like excuses rather than real solutions.
Senator Allan also explained the context of devolution since 1992 and the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling, which changed the distribution of funds to LGUs. He highlighted the tension between national government and LGUs over funding responsibilities, insisting that devolution should not be used as an excuse to shift all responsibilities to LGUs.
He directly challenged the DOH:
“Senator Tulfo, you know I respect you, and I never interrupt you. But this kind of answer from DOH—let’s not fool ourselves. This is about children’s health. This is the country’s future. Two years of delays. When will this change?
Can you guarantee us that in 2026 there will be no delays? If not, then let’s get a secretary who can.”
He repeated that Cambodia and Laos do not experience vaccine delays, but the Philippines does.
He also cited pricing differences: if DOH buys a vaccine for ₱10, LGUs may be forced to pay ₱150. And some vaccines LGUs are prohibited from buying at all.
The secretary, through the sponsor, admitted procurement issues. Senator Allan noted that the DOH said there is intense competition among bidders—but argued that bidders should not be dictating the entire procurement process. Delays in bidding, he insisted, endanger children.
He also challenged DOH’s inconsistent claims regarding UNICEF procurement, noting the ₱1.2-billion release that was filed in the Ombudsman. He questioned whether this coincidentally occurred while the secretary was campaigning for a position at the WHO.
He again emphasized the unacceptable nature of delays, referring to past cases: passport delays under previous administrations, LTO license plate backlogs solved within months, and other bureaucratic bottlenecks that were resolved when leaders took decisive action.
He argued that vaccine delivery, especially for children and senior citizens, should be even easier to fix. Yet year after year, delays persist.
He lamented the lack of urgency in government, contrasting the comfort of officials with the danger faced by ordinary Filipinos whose elderly parents may die from flu or pneumonia simply because vaccines do not arrive on time.
Senator Joel Villanueva also took the floor, reinforcing concerns. He said DOH repeatedly blamed logistics for medicine expirations worth millions or billions. But in his view, the problem may be deeper—structural inefficiency, poor planning, and reliance on small, unqualified contractors.
He mentioned COA audit reports and a list of LGUs and mayors who refused deliveries of medicines because they were close to expiry. He demanded immediate action to prevent waste and protect public health.
Senator Allan further explained that the national tax allotment (NTA) and funding allocations were part of the bigger issue. He criticized the national government for shifting responsibilities to LGUs without giving them the proper funding. He clarified the distinctions between fully devolved, partially devolved, and retained functions, noting that hypertension and diabetes maintenance medicines are fully devolved, while TB treatment remains the responsibility of the national government.
He made it clear that he was not advocating for personal interests but laying down facts, and he challenged the Senate and DOH to provide clearer, more honest answers.
He emphasized the underfunding of the National Nutrition Council—despite stunting being one of the country’s biggest problems. He pointed out that the DOH’s budget continues to rise, but critical programs remain underfunded or mismanaged.
He revisited the delayed flu vaccines that were supposed to arrive in March or April but were pushed to December—again putting vulnerable citizens at risk.
Senator Joel recommended that medicines nearing expiry be used for free medical missions, an idea also raised by Senator Tulfo.
He noted that COA reports and LGU testimonies confirm widespread refusal of near-expiry medicines. He called for system-wide reforms to prevent recurring logistical failures.
In closing, Senator Allan reiterated that the explanations offered were not enough. Concrete solutions are needed: better procurement systems, disciplined budgeting, and genuine accountability from both DOH and DBM.
He left the podium issuing a challenge—a demand for urgent action, especially to protect children and the poor, who suffer the most from the government’s failures.
