By Genalyn KabilingÂ
The government has authorized the release of P45.7 billion for the Department of Health's (DOH) various programs related to fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
The health-related programs include the procurement of 1,500 ventilators for government hospitals handling coronavirus patients, President Duterte said in his latest weekly report to Congress on the implementation of the Bayanihan law.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ( KARL NORMAN ALONZO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"The DBM (Department of Budget and Management) through its Procurement Service has approved and issued Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) dated 23 April 2020 in the amount of P45.717 billion to cover the funding requirements for the efficient implementation of programs and projects of the DOH under RA (Republic Act) No. 11469," the President said.
"The SARO includes the allotment of P1.35 billion for the purchase of 1,500 units of mechanical ventilators to serve the needs of DOH hospitals, selected hospitals, military hospitals, and UP (University of the Philippines) Philippine General Hospital," he added.
Duterte said DBM has approved the DOH request to hire additional 15,757 healthcare professionals to boost the number of personnel in government hospitals.
The health workers will be hired under a contact of service for a period of three months with a budget of P2.7 billion under the DOH's budget for the year.
P20-M incentive
Any Filipino who can design and develop a durable respirator to help coronavirus patients will receive P20 million incentive from President Duterte, Malacañang announced Tuesday.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President pushed for the local research and development of the life-saving machine amid the shortage of respirators in the market.
Duterte recently offered P50 million to any Filipino who can discover a vaccine to the dreaded disease that has infected more than 7,000 Filipinos.
During a Cabinet meeting Monday, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña informed the President about the ongoing development of three prototypes of locally designed ventilators.
"So we have this project called Ginhawa and actually we are already undergoing the final production of the three prototypes and hopefully if the prototypes will work in our test patients at the ICU, we can continue with the mass production," Dela Peña added.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ( KARL NORMAN ALONZO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"The DBM (Department of Budget and Management) through its Procurement Service has approved and issued Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) dated 23 April 2020 in the amount of P45.717 billion to cover the funding requirements for the efficient implementation of programs and projects of the DOH under RA (Republic Act) No. 11469," the President said.
"The SARO includes the allotment of P1.35 billion for the purchase of 1,500 units of mechanical ventilators to serve the needs of DOH hospitals, selected hospitals, military hospitals, and UP (University of the Philippines) Philippine General Hospital," he added.
Duterte said DBM has approved the DOH request to hire additional 15,757 healthcare professionals to boost the number of personnel in government hospitals.
The health workers will be hired under a contact of service for a period of three months with a budget of P2.7 billion under the DOH's budget for the year.
P20-M incentive
Any Filipino who can design and develop a durable respirator to help coronavirus patients will receive P20 million incentive from President Duterte, Malacañang announced Tuesday.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President pushed for the local research and development of the life-saving machine amid the shortage of respirators in the market.
Duterte recently offered P50 million to any Filipino who can discover a vaccine to the dreaded disease that has infected more than 7,000 Filipinos.
During a Cabinet meeting Monday, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña informed the President about the ongoing development of three prototypes of locally designed ventilators.
"So we have this project called Ginhawa and actually we are already undergoing the final production of the three prototypes and hopefully if the prototypes will work in our test patients at the ICU, we can continue with the mass production," Dela Peña added.