Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — Several lawmakers on Monday raised the alarm about the massive budget slash in the Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed 2024 budget.
House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto on Sunday said the DOH’s earmarked “agency proper” budget for 2024 will suffer a ₱10-billion cut.
The Batangas congressman said the proposed budget for DOH’s Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases has been set at ₱1.7 billion a ₱1.2-billion cut from this year’s ₱2.9 billion, and even lower than the Palace’s original request of ₱2 billion for 2023.
According to the lawmaker, the DOH still needs the funds as the country reels from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic despite the lifting of the state of public health emergency. He said this need is reflected in the proposed ₱20-billion allocation for public health emergency benefits for health workers.
Recto blamed \”the big payroll and overhead in maintaining a large bureaucracy, plus rising debt service\” for boxing out social services.
Several senators assured the public they will scrutinize the proposed budget for DOH, saying healthcare should be one of the top priorities in formulating the national budget.
At the onset, Senator Bong Revilla said the amount seems insufficient as it will be smaller compared to the 2023 budget.
\”Sa kasalukuyan nga ay parang kulang na kulang na ang ating pondong inilalaan para sa ating mga ospital kaya dapat sikapin na mas matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng sektor,\” he said in a message to reporters.
[Translation: The current fund is not enough for the hospitals. We need to address the sector’s needs better.]
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said wasted allocation will be unacceptable considering the proposed cut.
\”There should be no wastage and leakages when it comes to the purchase of vaccines, medicines, vitamins, and other supplies. We should not cut the budget for the basic services. But in calculating the amounts needed for the basic services, we should also not allow the bloating of these amounts,\” he said.
Recto assured the public that Congress and the executive branch will work to find ways to increase the amount.
\”Just like in the past, Congress and the executive, in the spirit of cooperation, will find ways on how to increase the health budget. In the spirit of cooperation, we will find ways on how to increase the health budget,\” he said in a statement.
He also emphasized that after the medical frontliners’ benefits and allowances are finally paid out this year, the DOH will have a \”big budget space\” for 2025.
He also lauded the Marcos administration for seeking ₱2.02 billion for cancer control and cancer patient assistance funds for 2024, which is nearly half-a-billion-peso increase compared to the 2023 funds. Recto said it is “good news.”
Sen. Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said the Senate finance panel is targeting to come up with a committee report on the national expenditure program to be sponsored in early November.
