Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 19) — The Department of Health on Monday said the funds allocated under the proposed ₱4.5-trillion budget for 2021 to purchase COVID-19 vaccines are far from enough to immunize 20% of the country’s most vulnerable sectors.
Only ₱2.5 billion is set aside in the proposed 2021 national budget to procure coronavirus vaccines for Filipinos. Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said an additional ₱10.5 billion is needed if the Philippines wants to meet its initial goal of giving two doses of vaccine each to healthcare workers and indigents.
“Kapag tinignan ang priority population especially as pronounced by the President, noong kinompute natin lahat ‘yan, it totaled to ₱12.1 billion, so kulang ng about ₱10.5 billion sa budget na iyan,” she said in an online media forum.
[Translation: When we look at the priority population especially as pronounced by the President, after computing everything, it totaled to ₱12.1 billion. So, we need an additional ₱10.5 billion in the budget.]
The Department of Health said it has received the commitment of lawmakers deliberating the national budget to ensure that there will be enough funds to procure the much-awaited coronavirus vaccines.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the 2021 budget bill, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said they are working on increasing the allocation through the small panel amending the approved bill. He said the current allocation will only cover 3% of the country’s population, a far cry from the request of Duterte of 20%.
Last week, Duterte also said it is his wish to ensure that all Filipinos will be given a coronavirus vaccine – with the poor, the police, and soldiers getting priority. He said he is working to secure more funds.
Under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, ₱10 billion is reserved for COVID-19 testing and the procurement of COVID-19 medicines and vaccines.
