Binay: Probe misuse of $85M AIDS grant

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:19:00 02/13/2010

UNITED OPPOSITION (UNO) VICE PRESIDENTIAL candidate Jejomar Binay has called for an investigation of a Filipino non-governmental organization’s alleged mismanagement of the $85-million HIV/AIDS grant from an international funding institution.

Binay, the mayor of Makati, said an investigation by the US Office of the Inspector General led to the discovery that nearly $1 million of a grant given by the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis to the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) was spent on activities outside the grant agreement.

TDF is supervised by the Department of Health (DOH) through the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).

“This is appalling, particularly since Global Fund is one of the biggest donors to the country’s health program,” Binay said in a statement.

The misuse of the funds resulted in the cancellation of five grants given to the TDF, according to a statement in Global Fund’s website.

Last changed: Mar 02 2010 at 2:13 AM