MANILA, Philippines — To ensure funding against what could be a drawn-out battle against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief economic manager on Sunday sought quick Congress approval of next year’s proposed P4.5-trillion national budget.
In a statement, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, on behalf of the economic team, said the 2021 appropriations would help “rebuild the economy and decisively defeat COVID-19.”
Hearings on next year’s record-high spending plan began in the lower house’s appropriations committee last week, while the Senate finance committee will start tackling the measure this week.
The 2021 budget will set aside at least P2.5 billion to procure COVID-19 vaccines, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had said.
The government will spend P2.7 billion to supply personal protective equipment to the Department of Health’s hospitals and laboratories, while P283.5 million will be set aside to establish a Virology Center in New Clark City.