Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday, Aug. 21, said that part of the P59-billion unspent funds flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) are currently "available."
"Sa P24.6 billion unobligated funds, P17.8 billion ay kasalukuyang available po siya para gamitin ngayong taon. Of this, ang nagamit na ng DOH ay P12.56 billion. Katumbas nito ay 72 percent noong P17.8 billion. As of June 2021, gamit po ito (Of the P24.6 billion unobligated funds, P17.8 billion is currently available for use this year. Of this, the DOH has already used P12.56B. This is equivalent to 72 percent of the P17.8 billion. As of June 2021, this has been utilized)," Duque said during President Duterte's pre-recorded "Talk to the People" address aired on Saturday.
COA said that the DOH had unspent P59.125 billion budget in 2020. It accounts for 29 percent of the DOH's total 2020 budget of P200.855 billion.
Duque pointed out that part of the available funds will be allocated for healthcare workers' salaries and procurement of medicines.