Manila Bulletin
Philippines
House panel approves P1.6 billion supplemental budget bill for DOH efforts vs. COVID-19
Philippines
House panel approves P1.6 billion supplemental budget bill for DOH efforts vs. COVID-19
House panel approves P1.6 billion supplemental budget bill for DOH efforts vs. COVID-19
Published Mar 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The House committee on appropriations approved on Tuesday (March 10) a substitute measure seeking to appropriate a supplemental budget of P1.6 billion for the Department of Health (DOH) to strengthen the country's health system response against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
House of the Representatives (Facebook)
Davao de Oro 2nd district Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga moved for the approval of the substitute supplemental bill, which is a consolidation of two measures.
Before the bill's approval, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, new chairperson of the House panel, urged his colleagues to immediately pass the supplemental budget measure.
"Hindi po ako magaling na mambabatas, pero magaling po ako magsilbi. Ang aking kayang gawin ay i-assure po ang mga tao kung ano po ang kailangang dapat mapondohan, katulad ng COVID-19 ay mapondohan po natin.
“Hindi po ako titigil ngayong araw, hindi po ako uuwi. Samahan niyo po ako, 'wag tayong umuwi kung hindi natin mapondohan itong supplemental ‘pag hindi natin mapasa ito," Yap said.
(I am not a good lawmaker, but I am good at serving. What I can do is to assure the people that what needs funding, like COVID-19, will be funded. I won't stop today, I will not leave. Join me, let's not leave until this supplemental budget is passed.)
The House panel agreed the proposed P1.6 billion supplemental budget shall be available for release and obligation until "after it is fully spent."
The bill seeks to augment the DOH’s health system response to COVID-19.
In the deliberation, Deputy Treasurer Sharon Almanza of the Bureau of Treasury said the remaining available fund is only P1.65 billion.
"At present, we don't have the P2.04 billion excess income available. We have P1.65 billion in excess," she said.
She added that they have been coordinating with the Department of Finance (DOF) to expedite the remittance of various dividends from government corporations.
She assured the panel that they can issue certifications for such a purpose because a supplemental budget must be supported by a certification of funds availability from the National Treasurer.
In a media interview, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III welcomed the passage of the measure.
"It is an additional because PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) has P2 billion commitment. So far that is going to satisfy our requirement for the personal protective equipment of about P2.25 million thereabouts," he said.
He said aside from the P2 billion committed by PAGCOR, the DOH has P530 million savings, and P420 million funding committed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
"Hopefully, it is enough. But if it is not, then P1.6 billion may be used to cure that," Duque said.
Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-An told the Yap panel that the DOH is seeking a P3.1 billion budget for personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Bureau of Quarantine, and test kits.
He said a total of P4.6 billion available funds from other sources can be tapped.
Quezon 4th district Rep. Helen Tan, chairman of the House committee on health and author of the supplemental budget measure, said the supplemental budget measure may not be certified as urgent.
During the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting last night, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado told her there is "no need" for such certification as of the moment.
DBM Undersecretary Janet Abuel told the panel that the available funds – the P100 million Quick Response Fund of the DOH and the P13 billion contingency fund -- "can cover the current requirements of the DOH."
In the hearing, Duque reported that the two of 24 confirmed cases are "in critical condition"-- referring to the 87-year old American citizen and a Filipino who frequented a prayer room in San Juan.
On the possible lockdown of the National Capital Region (NCR), he said they are still assessing the situation whether or not there is a need for such.
"Wala muna sa ngayon. I-assess natin," he said in a media interview. (No lockdown as of now. We will still assess)
But in the Yap panel's deliberation, Duque cited the possibility of having a "localized lockdown" based on their objective criteria.
He explained that the lockdown will be imposed "if there is sustained human-to-human community transmission -- meaning that there are already clusterings that you cannot link them together."
"We still try our best to contain," the Health Secretary added.
House of the Representatives (Facebook)
Davao de Oro 2nd district Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga moved for the approval of the substitute supplemental bill, which is a consolidation of two measures.
Before the bill's approval, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, new chairperson of the House panel, urged his colleagues to immediately pass the supplemental budget measure.
"Hindi po ako magaling na mambabatas, pero magaling po ako magsilbi. Ang aking kayang gawin ay i-assure po ang mga tao kung ano po ang kailangang dapat mapondohan, katulad ng COVID-19 ay mapondohan po natin.
“Hindi po ako titigil ngayong araw, hindi po ako uuwi. Samahan niyo po ako, 'wag tayong umuwi kung hindi natin mapondohan itong supplemental ‘pag hindi natin mapasa ito," Yap said.
(I am not a good lawmaker, but I am good at serving. What I can do is to assure the people that what needs funding, like COVID-19, will be funded. I won't stop today, I will not leave. Join me, let's not leave until this supplemental budget is passed.)
The House panel agreed the proposed P1.6 billion supplemental budget shall be available for release and obligation until "after it is fully spent."
The bill seeks to augment the DOH’s health system response to COVID-19.
In the deliberation, Deputy Treasurer Sharon Almanza of the Bureau of Treasury said the remaining available fund is only P1.65 billion.
"At present, we don't have the P2.04 billion excess income available. We have P1.65 billion in excess," she said.
She added that they have been coordinating with the Department of Finance (DOF) to expedite the remittance of various dividends from government corporations.
She assured the panel that they can issue certifications for such a purpose because a supplemental budget must be supported by a certification of funds availability from the National Treasurer.
In a media interview, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III welcomed the passage of the measure.
"It is an additional because PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) has P2 billion commitment. So far that is going to satisfy our requirement for the personal protective equipment of about P2.25 million thereabouts," he said.
He said aside from the P2 billion committed by PAGCOR, the DOH has P530 million savings, and P420 million funding committed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
"Hopefully, it is enough. But if it is not, then P1.6 billion may be used to cure that," Duque said.
Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-An told the Yap panel that the DOH is seeking a P3.1 billion budget for personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Bureau of Quarantine, and test kits.
He said a total of P4.6 billion available funds from other sources can be tapped.
Quezon 4th district Rep. Helen Tan, chairman of the House committee on health and author of the supplemental budget measure, said the supplemental budget measure may not be certified as urgent.
During the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting last night, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado told her there is "no need" for such certification as of the moment.
DBM Undersecretary Janet Abuel told the panel that the available funds – the P100 million Quick Response Fund of the DOH and the P13 billion contingency fund -- "can cover the current requirements of the DOH."
In the hearing, Duque reported that the two of 24 confirmed cases are "in critical condition"-- referring to the 87-year old American citizen and a Filipino who frequented a prayer room in San Juan.
On the possible lockdown of the National Capital Region (NCR), he said they are still assessing the situation whether or not there is a need for such.
"Wala muna sa ngayon. I-assess natin," he said in a media interview. (No lockdown as of now. We will still assess)
But in the Yap panel's deliberation, Duque cited the possibility of having a "localized lockdown" based on their objective criteria.
He explained that the lockdown will be imposed "if there is sustained human-to-human community transmission -- meaning that there are already clusterings that you cannot link them together."
"We still try our best to contain," the Health Secretary added.