Lawmakers question gov’t 2021 budget priorities

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are questioning the Duterte administration’s priorities in its spending plan for 2021 and demanded an explanation as to why the govenment allocated P191 billion for the Philippine National Police when only P131 billion was earmarked for the Department of Health (DOH).

“Is COVID-19 response really a priority?” asked Kabataan party list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago. “Why was a very small amount allotted for reinforcing the country’s health-care system in the middle of a public health crisis?”

The funding for DOH is also only about half of that for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including its modernization program, which amounts to P236 billion, she said.

Elago said the 2021 budget also provided the Office of the President confidential and intelligence funds of about P4.5 billion, or about P22 million a day, that are legally exempted from audit.

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, chair of the committee on health, also complained about the “small” funding for the DOH, including the slashed budget for health facilities.