(MANILA BULLETIN)

Senators from both sides of the fence have vowed to thoroughly review the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) after it was reported that it had been reduced by P10 billion compared to the current 2023 allocation. 

"We should scrutinize in detail the budget of the DOH," Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel said on Monday, Aug, 21. 

"There should be no wastage and leakages when it comes to the purchase of vaccines, medicines, vitamins, and other supplies," he said. 

"We should not cut the budget for the basic services. But in calculating the amounts needed for the basic services, we should also not allow the bloating of these amounts," Pimentel further said. 

Unless Congress does something about it, the DOH budget go down from P209.1 billion this year to P199.1 billion next year. The latter amount is listed under the P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024. 

A member of the majority, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. agreed with Pimentel in that the DOH budget needs to be looked into. 

"We will definitely look into this when we deliberate the National Expenditure Program in the Senate. Health care should be, as it always has been, a priority in formulating the national budget," he said. 

Another majority senator, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, wants to find out first the reason for the P10-billion slash from the key agency. 

"I will have to know first from the budget proponents the reason behind the cut and where do they intend to transfer such cut before I can make the proper motion," he said.