Lacson: P200B budget for COVID-19 pandemic may be ‘insufficient’

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, during Kapihan sa Senado media forum Thursday, February 27, 2020. Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The P200 billion projected budget eyed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic may be insufficient, Sen. Panfilo Locsin Jr. said Sunday.

“Kasi ang projection 2 months, maliit talaga yan. Hindi ito nakakasapat. Pang-kain lang,” he said in an interview with DZBB.

(The projection is two months; that would be a small amount. It’s not enough. That’s just for food.)

He said this will only cover support to 16.5 million families and 30 percent minimum wage for affected workers in the next two months.

The Congress is set to pass a bill that would support the government’s response against the pandemic. But Lacson said there are several factors that should be considered.

“Tinitingnan ko rin bigyan ng extra hazard pay ang frontliners natin ang health workers, doctors and nurses kasi naka-expose sila sa COVID-19. O bigyan sila ng health insurance,” the senator said.

(I’m also looking at providing extra hazard pay for our frontliners – the health workers, doctors and nurses because they are exposed to COVID-19. Or maybe we can give them health insurance.)

There could also be a need to look for other sources of funds to augment the P200 billion supplemental budget, he said.

Congress will convene in a special session on Monday to address the national budget funds for COVID-19.