I WONDER WHY Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has steadfastly clung to his office despite several allegations of misdeeds, missteps and irregularities.
Others wonder, too, why President Duterte favors his Health Secretary and keeps him in his cabinet.
What happened to the President's statement that any official in his administration subject of a mere whiff of corruption will be sacked pronto?
It seems the President intends to let Duque stay in his post despite the controversies starting with Dengvaxia and the anomalous (and overpriced) purchase of test kits and personal protective equipment.
Ah, the opposition usually alleges that Duque must have faithfully remitted big sums to his boss, that is why he is still around!
The biggest blunder so far by the Department of Health (DOH) is its adamance to submit the confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) required by Pfizer ro allow us early delivery of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine. We expected it to be available as early as January this year but because of the ineptness of Duque et al we have been bypassed by Singapore which completed the requirements faster than us! Is it a case of papaano, magkano?
And now, Duque remains in his position untouched!
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Hold over capacity. Over at Fiesta Communities Tabun Mabalacar City Homeowners Association (FCTMCHAI), its Board of Directors is preparing for next year's election of new set of directors if ever there would be one, in view of the present pandemic.
This year, due to the present health crisis, election for the new set of directors ,may be deferred until September 21, 2021, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant. It appears that the end of restriction on mass gatherings is, at this point, not in sight.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, aware of the predicament of homeowners associations and federations, issued Department Circular No. 2020-003, series of November 20, 2020, provided the guidelines for the use of alternative modes of conducting meetings and voting for Homeowners Associations under extraordinary circumstances.
The regional office of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, based in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, is in constant touch with FCTMCHAI on matters of election of new directors and other concerns.
The current board of directors of FCTMCHAI have accomplished a lot and therefore deserves another term, restrictions in its by-laws notwithstanding.