Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Department of Health (DOH) presented before the lower house on Wednesday (September 9) its proposed budget for 2016, as part of the National Expenditure Program.
The DOH has a proposed budget of P126 billion, which is about 41 percent higher than its current budget.
Officials said they are seeking to hire additional doctors and nurses.
Health Secretary Janette Garin said that with additional funding, the number of doctors will increase from 398 to 1,051 in the poorest areas.
Nurses in these municipalities will also increase from 13,500 to 15,000.
The DOH is targeting to build 796 barangay health centers by June 2016, and is also proposing an increase in the salary of hospital workers.
However, Ang Nars Partylist Rep. Leah Paquiz questioned Garin about the salary of nurses.
The lawmaker said nurses should be receiving about P15,000 or P30,000. Garin said that some nurses who used to earn P15,000 to P18,000 are now earning P26,000.
But the Department of Budget and Management said the law requiring P30,000 salary for nurses was repealed when the Salary Standardization Law was passed.
