No subsidy for local producers of PPEs, health supplies in DTI 2021 budget

MANILA, Philippines — There is no allocation under the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) 2021 proposed budget to provide subsidy for the local manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other health supplies.

This was revealed during the House plenary debates on the DTI’s 2021 budget on Tuesday, upon the interpellation of Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas.

“May budget ba sa subsidy para sa local manufacturers particularly ‘yung mga health supplies, mga PPEs?” Brosas asked.

(Is there a budget for the subsidy of local manufacturers, particularly of those producing health supplies, those PPEs?)

Bukidnon 3rd District Rep. Manuel Zubiri, who is defending the DTI’s budget, said there is no budget for the subsidy.

He lamented the lack of a budget for subsidies, pointing out that other countries have allocated budget for workers and for the manufacturing sector.

“Wala silang budget for subsidies. How I wish na mabigyan ng subsidy. Kung mabigyan natin ng budget, definitely they will accept it and they will make sure they will use it properly,” Zubiri said.

(They have no budget for subsidies. I wish they could be given a budget. If we can give them a budget, definitely they will accept it and we will make sure they will use it properly.)

The DTI is proposing a budget of P20.162 billion for 2021.

JPV