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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Gov't has enough funds to fight virus – officials

Gov't has enough funds to fight virus – officials

Published Mar 17, 2020 12:00 am
By Hannah Torregoza and Genalyn Kabiling The government has sufficient funds to address the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This was assured by Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go in separate statements. Neophyte Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Neophyte Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Panelo assured the public that the government has sufficient funds to bankroll government efforts to contain the spread of the virus, stressing that Malacañang may tap funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). “We currently have enough funding to help DOH and other concerned agencies to promptly respond to the needs of our people amid the COVID-19 situation,” Go said in a separate statement. Go reiterated that the government can source funds from Pagcor and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). “I mentioned last week that Pagcor can provide an additional P2 billion; P420 million from PCSO will also be allocated based on a proclamation issued by the President,” Go said in a statement. Go also said the Department of Health (DOH) has around P539-million savings and P81-million worth of quick response fund (QRF) that can be utilized. He also said there are available contingency funds and budget from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) which can be tapped as standby sources when needed. According to Panelo, the President has said that has has given P100 million a month in aid to the Philippine General Hospital and another P50 million for the military hospital. The fund allocations are sourced from the revenues of the state gaming corporation. The President has also committed to provide needed funds of government institutions in the increased production of medical test kits for the coronavirus, Panelo added. He said a House of Representatives panel has also approved a P1.6 billion supplemental budget for the DOH to cover the anti-coronavirus drive. Likewise, Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. on Sunday sought the immediate approval by Congress of the P10 billion to P15 billion supplemental budget for the purchase of COVID-19 testing kits. He strongly urged President Duterte to call for a special session so that Congress could pass “urgent” measures that will strengthen the government's capacity to contain the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Manila City government received 3,200 face masks as a donation, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced on Monday. The local chief executive said the masks will be distributed to six hospitals in the Philippine capital and given to health workers who are on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). These hospitals include the Sta. Ana Hospital, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Maynila, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJSGH), Ospital ng Tondo, and Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center. More isolation tents were also set up on Sunday by the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) at the JJSGH, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Tondo, and Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center. In Caloocan City, the city government has ordered the temporary suspension of operations of several commercial establishments during the Metro Manila community quarantine period. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan said he ordered the suspension of malls. However, grocery stores, banks, restaurants with home delivery, pharmacies, and centers offering medical services may remain open. Also ordered closed are cockpits, off-track betting stations, e-bingo/e-game centers, computer shops, KTVs, spas, and event places. Malapitan urged residents to avoid going out of their houses if not necessary during the community quarantine period. In Taguig, the city government confirmed on Sunday night three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to four. City health authorities said all four cases are in hospitals where they are isolated and being treated. In Quezon City, three persons under investigation (PUIs) in the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) has tested negative for COVID-19, the UPD announced on Monday. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has released the results of the tests of all three PUIs, which turned out negative. This means the UP community remains COVID-19-free. UPD appealed to the public to help the UP Health Service with donations of disposable surgical gloves, disposable face masks, surgical gowns, and 70 percent alcohol. (With reports from Minka S. Tiangco, Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz, and Dhel Nazario)
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