DBM: P66M allocated for vaccine ‘solidarity’ trials in 2021

The government is allocating at least P66 million for the Philippines’ participation in the solidarity trials aimed at finding a vaccine against COVID-19 in the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget in 2021.

During the House of Representatives budget hearing on Friday, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin asked why there is a budget for solidarity trials.

“Hindi po ba 'pag vaccine development, this should be sponsored by highly developed countries?” Garin asked.

Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said that “for solidarity trials, the amount is only 66 million.”

Avisado said the amount “is part of the commitment to the global move to discover or test possible vaccines.”

Malacañang earlier said that funds for the country’s participation in clinical trials for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine will be under the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Science and Technology.

Budget documents showed, the DOST has a total new appropriations of P23,619,023,000 for 2021. -MDM, GMA News