Enough funds for COVID-19 response even with ECQ extension, DILG assures

MANILA, Philippines— The P270 billion budget allocated for the government’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response is still enough even with the two-week extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and several provinces until May 15, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.

“Para sa akin kasi yung P270 billion na naka-allocate for this ay enough pa para sa atin, kahit hanggang extension ng May 15,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in an online Palace briefing.

(For me, the P270 billion allocated for this is enough for us, even with the extension [of ECQ] until May 15.)

Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, the government has set aside some P270 billion to be spent on COVID-19 response efforts.

Año said the country’s economic leaders have also assured during their meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte that the country’s funds are still sufficient to address the ongoing health crisis.

“Sabi nga kahapon ng ating mga economic leaders, we still have enough funds to support our fight against COVID,” Año said.

(The economic leaders said yesterday that we still have enough funds to support our fight against COVID.)

This, despite the President’s earlier remarks that the P270-billion budget was “not enough, asking the Department of Finance (DOF) to look for more sources.

Aside from Metro Manila, Duterte also approved the extension of the enhanced community quarantine until May 15 over Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) and other high-risk areas nationwide.

The movement of people in these areas will continue to be restricted, except when going out to buy food, medicine and in cases of emergency.

/MUF