Senate sets hearing on Dengvaxia fund

The Senate finance committee will hold a public hearing on Monday to discuss the proposed P1.16-billion supplemental fund for 2018 to support the medical needs of some 800,000 children who were administered with the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.

Sen. Loren Legarda, panel chair and author of Senate Bill No. 1794, will preside over the hearing on the proposal to allot P1.16 billion as supplemental appropriation for 2018.

Medical assistance

“This first public hearing is our first step toward appropriating a sufficient amount to fund the much-needed support for the Dengvaxia vaccinees by providing them with assistance for medical kits, hospitalization, outpatient care services, like laboratory tests,” Legarda said in a statement.

Representatives from the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Health, Bureau of Treasury, and the groups Anak Dengvaxia Victims, United Parents Against Dengvaxia, Dengvaxia Care Organization, Parents Alliance Justice Against Dengvaxia, and Samahan ng mga Magulang Anak ay Biktima ng Dengvaxia have been invited to the hearing. —DJ Yap