NEDA approves P5.09-B DOH virus emergency response project
Published Apr 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is preparing a P5.09-billion emergency response project to further improve the country's healthcare system against the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the Department of Health (DOH) proposal, President Duterte bared plans to establish testing and quarantine centers at six major airports, equip more laboratories for coronavirus cases, and establish negative pressure rooms and isolation tents, among others.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (KARL NORMAN ALONZO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee has approved the proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Project of the DOH with a total project cost of P5.09 billion," Duterte said in his fourth weekly report to Congress on the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The proposed emerging response program includes the establishment of "testing and quarantine facilities at six major international airports in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” according to the President.
The health department has also proposed to build 21 first-line decontamination facilities at international airports in selected areas across the country.
The proposal also involves refurbishing and establishing negative pressure isolation rooms in 70 DOH and 85 provincial public hospitals and the installation of 450 isolation tents.
The project likewise includes the provision to purchase personal protective equipment sets; COVID-19 test kits; diagnostic and life support equipment such as ventilators, oxygen machines, cardiac monitors, infusion pumps, portable x-ray machines, and ambulances.
The emergency response project comes as the country’s cases of infections have increased to 6,459 as of
April 20. At least 428 patients have died, while 613 have recovered from the illness.
Protection for health workers
The President said the government continues to mobilize resources to provide health and medical supplies and equipment to frontliners.
As of April 16, he said the DOH has received 254,590 goggles, 58,910 KN95 masks, 600,000 surgical masks, and 149,750 gloves.
To ensure the availability of medical supplies and equipment, Duterte said the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, and Bureau of Customs have issued a memorandum providing incentives to companies engaged in the manufacture of critical medicines, supplies, and equipment as well as exemptions
from import duties, taxes, and other fees.
Authorities have likewise suspended export requirements of exporters for these critical products and require them to supply at least 80 percent of their daily production for local use.
To promote the safety of health workers and protect them against discrimination, Duterte said local government units have been directed to provide temporary shelter and accommodation to health workers in provincial or city hospitals and other public health facilities.
He said the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has also implemented the "Bayanihan Frontliners Fund," an enhanced group personal accident insurance coverage for frontliners.
“Accordingly, the life insurance coverage has now been increased to P500,000 at no cost to the insured for the period of 12 March 2020 to 31 December 2020,” the President said.
P246-B savings
In his latest report to Congress, the President said government has pooled P246.283 billion savings from various sources which is higher compared to the P189.823 billion identified savings he reported the previous week.
"Out of the total pooled savings of P246.283 billion from various sources as of 16 April 2020, P148.933 billion has already been downloaded by the DBM to relevant national government agencies in connection with the government's COVID-19 responses," the President said in the document released by the Palace Monday.
Around P5.690 billion additional allotments and P7.789 billion cash allocations have been released for existing programs, activities, and projects within the 2020 national budget of national government agencies.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development received P100 billion for the emergency subsidy program while the Department of Labor and Employment received P4 billion for three social amelioration programs for workers.
The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand received P3 billion for its financial subsidy for rice farmers.
To augment the budget of local government units for coronavirus response, the DBM has released the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces (BGP) amounting to P6.197 billion which is equivalent to one half of the one-month internal revenue allotment share of the provinces this year.
Around P30.8 billion was previously released to cover the funding for the one-time Bayanihan grant to cities and municipalities for its COVID-19 response programs.
According to the President, the Bureau of the Treasury has certified that the amount of P100.221 billion, sourced from the excess revenue from the dividend collection of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCC), is available to fund additional requirements to address the coronavirus situation.
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation, the President said has also submitted its inventory of real properties that may be considered for COVID-19 programs.
The state firm has released its share in taxes to host communities, benefiting six provinces, two cities, 15 municipalities, and 80 barangays.
A similar list of properties was earlier given by the Philippine Guarantee Corporation.
The President had earlier com-that government is continuously augmenting its fiscal resources for the country’s coronavirus response measures and is willing to borrow and sell assets if the funds will run out.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (KARL NORMAN ALONZO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee has approved the proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Project of the DOH with a total project cost of P5.09 billion," Duterte said in his fourth weekly report to Congress on the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The proposed emerging response program includes the establishment of "testing and quarantine facilities at six major international airports in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” according to the President.
The health department has also proposed to build 21 first-line decontamination facilities at international airports in selected areas across the country.
The proposal also involves refurbishing and establishing negative pressure isolation rooms in 70 DOH and 85 provincial public hospitals and the installation of 450 isolation tents.
The project likewise includes the provision to purchase personal protective equipment sets; COVID-19 test kits; diagnostic and life support equipment such as ventilators, oxygen machines, cardiac monitors, infusion pumps, portable x-ray machines, and ambulances.
The emergency response project comes as the country’s cases of infections have increased to 6,459 as of
April 20. At least 428 patients have died, while 613 have recovered from the illness.
Protection for health workers
The President said the government continues to mobilize resources to provide health and medical supplies and equipment to frontliners.
As of April 16, he said the DOH has received 254,590 goggles, 58,910 KN95 masks, 600,000 surgical masks, and 149,750 gloves.
To ensure the availability of medical supplies and equipment, Duterte said the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, and Bureau of Customs have issued a memorandum providing incentives to companies engaged in the manufacture of critical medicines, supplies, and equipment as well as exemptions
from import duties, taxes, and other fees.
Authorities have likewise suspended export requirements of exporters for these critical products and require them to supply at least 80 percent of their daily production for local use.
To promote the safety of health workers and protect them against discrimination, Duterte said local government units have been directed to provide temporary shelter and accommodation to health workers in provincial or city hospitals and other public health facilities.
He said the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has also implemented the "Bayanihan Frontliners Fund," an enhanced group personal accident insurance coverage for frontliners.
“Accordingly, the life insurance coverage has now been increased to P500,000 at no cost to the insured for the period of 12 March 2020 to 31 December 2020,” the President said.
P246-B savings
In his latest report to Congress, the President said government has pooled P246.283 billion savings from various sources which is higher compared to the P189.823 billion identified savings he reported the previous week.
"Out of the total pooled savings of P246.283 billion from various sources as of 16 April 2020, P148.933 billion has already been downloaded by the DBM to relevant national government agencies in connection with the government's COVID-19 responses," the President said in the document released by the Palace Monday.
Around P5.690 billion additional allotments and P7.789 billion cash allocations have been released for existing programs, activities, and projects within the 2020 national budget of national government agencies.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development received P100 billion for the emergency subsidy program while the Department of Labor and Employment received P4 billion for three social amelioration programs for workers.
The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand received P3 billion for its financial subsidy for rice farmers.
To augment the budget of local government units for coronavirus response, the DBM has released the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces (BGP) amounting to P6.197 billion which is equivalent to one half of the one-month internal revenue allotment share of the provinces this year.
Around P30.8 billion was previously released to cover the funding for the one-time Bayanihan grant to cities and municipalities for its COVID-19 response programs.
According to the President, the Bureau of the Treasury has certified that the amount of P100.221 billion, sourced from the excess revenue from the dividend collection of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCC), is available to fund additional requirements to address the coronavirus situation.
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation, the President said has also submitted its inventory of real properties that may be considered for COVID-19 programs.
The state firm has released its share in taxes to host communities, benefiting six provinces, two cities, 15 municipalities, and 80 barangays.
A similar list of properties was earlier given by the Philippine Guarantee Corporation.
The President had earlier com-that government is continuously augmenting its fiscal resources for the country’s coronavirus response measures and is willing to borrow and sell assets if the funds will run out.