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November 18, 2020

PITC procurement of COVID-19 vaccines: Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto expresses his reservations in utilizing the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as the procurement arm of the state for COVID-19 vaccines during the deliberation on the proposed 2021 budget of the DTI Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Recto cited a Commission on Audit report which showed that PITC failed to deliver purchases to various government agencies such as the Philippine Army, P5.4 billion; Department of Information and Communications Technology, P3.5 billion; Bureau of Customs P2.8 billion; and the Department of Health, P2.1 billion, among others. “I am not saying I am against it, I’m just saying it might not be a good practice and it might set a precedent for the future,” Recto said. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

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