Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III on Tuesday asked senators for a P51 -billion supplemental budget for the Department of Health’s Covid-19 response, which he said could be inserted in the third Bayanihan measure pending in Congress.
“We have a gap that is why, we are asking for a supplemental budget under Bayanihan 3, kung magkakaroon po, kung maipasa po ‘yan [If there would be a Bayanihan 3, if that would be passed],” Duque told senators during Tuesday’s Senate hearing on the government vaccination program.
He said P51-billion would be used for the following:
- active hazard duty pay (AHDP) of 365,000 health-care workers (HCWs)
- special risk allowance (SRA) for 300,000 HCWs amounting to P25 billion;
- P10 billion to augment hospitals’ Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses
- P 2.5 billion for emergency hiring of personnel for the pandemic response
- P6.6 billion for the hiring of 5,517 vaccinators and 15,266 screeners
Duque said that the DOH already “communicated” this request for a supplemental budget to the House of Representatives and concerned agencies, even to the Office of the President.
Senator Francis Pangilinan and Senator Ralph Recto expressed worries that the target to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity would be affected due to lack of vaccinators.
Duque assured them the DOH can manage the lack of vaccinators for the moment.
Finance Secretary Carlso Dominguez III noted though that Bayanihan 3 and the additional funds requested by the DOH (Department of Health) are two separate issues.
He said the discussions of the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management have to be concluded separately from the discussions on the proposed Bayanihan 3, stressing the DOH’s request “should not be part of the Bayanihan 3.”
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