DOH: P127.29B proposed budget for secretary’s office covers all dep’t offices

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health clarified on Friday that the P127.29 billion listed for the Office of the Secretary under its proposed budget for 2021 already includes funding for all its offices.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the clarification after health officials told a budget hearing that the DOH – Office of the Secretary will receive the lion’s share or 62 percent of the proposed funding for the department next year.

“Kahapon may lumabas na article na sinasabi na bakit daw nasa Office of the Secretary lahat ng pera ng DOH. ‘Yun lang po ay ginagawa na nakapaloob sa Office of the Secretary pero pag tiningnan niyo po ang detalye ng aming budget, ‘yung Office of the Secretary funds, nandyan po lahat ng budget ng opisina ng DOH,” Vergeire told a press briefing.

(Yesterday there was an article asking why all the money of the DOH will go to the Office of the Secretary. The funding is only listed under the Office of the Secretary but it also includes the budget of all offices under the DOH.)

She said funding for preventive, promotive, rehabilitation and treatment, and regulatory measures of the DOH are all included in this budget.

“Every office of the DOH, nakapaloob sa Office of the Secretary’s funds. ‘Yun lang po ‘yung budget line list na pangalan pero hindi po napupunta lahat ‘yan sa Office ng Secretary of Health. We just like to clarify that so that hindi po nakoconfuse ang mga tao regarding this matter,” Vergeire continued.

(Every office of the DOH is included in funds for the Office of the Secretary. That is the budget line list but it does not mean that it all goes to the Office of the Secretary of Health. We just like to clarify that so that the people will not be confused on this matter.)

Vergeire then urged the public to look at the details of the recommended budget for the DOH to understand that this format is being followed in the listing of budget proposals for the General Appropriations Act.

Based on the P203.74 billion proposed budget of the DOH submitted to the House committee on appropriations, the “DOH – Office of the Secretary” will receive P127.29 billion or 62 percent of the total budget for the department.

The next biggest slice will go to the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation at P71 billion or 35 percent of the proposed funding.

The remaining amount will go to attached agencies and corporations of the DOH.

The Department of Budget and Management earlier recommended a P4.506 trillion national budget for 2021 under the National Expenditure Program submitted to Congress.

/MUF