Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday said he would be filing a bill that will allow children affected by the Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine to use the P1.1-billion refund by drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur for their medical treatments.
During the joint hearing on the Dengvaxia fiasco, Gordon, chair of the committee on blue ribbon, assured the parents of the affected children that fund would be released to them.
“Pinapangako ko sa inyo, this afternoon, magreresolution na ako, mag-pa file ako ng bill na gamitin yang pera yan para sa mga magulang,” Gordon said.
“At kailangan ko lang ng suporta sa lower house,” he added.
The statement was made after Health Secretary Francisco Duque mentioned that the Department of Health asked for an authorization from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allot the unused funds to support families affected by the Dengvaxia vaccine.
“Kami po ay humihingi ng authorization, ng pahintulot, sa DBM at sa Kongreso para sa ganoon ay mailabas ang pondong ito at gamitin para sa pangangailangan po ng inyong mga anak,” Duque said.
According to Gordon, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has already permitted the DOH to use the fund for assistance purposes.
“You (Duque) said that you needed congressional approval to use that money. I heard Secretary Diokno, sinasabi ko po sa inyo, sabi niya pwede niyong gamitin,” Duque said
“Ang gagawin po natin, ay kunin kay Secretary Diokno na sine-certify niya na itong perang ito ay pwedeng ilaan (sa families),” he added. /muf