Senators question DBCC over 'anemic' DOH budget for 2021

Some senators on Wednesday grilled the Development Budget Coordination Committee for allocating only P131 billion for the Department of Health (DOH) in the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a budget hearing at the Senate, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said the DOH budget has actually been increased for the next fiscal year.

"The budget of DOH stands at P104.493 billion while for next year it has been increased to P131.721 billion or an increase of 26% more or less," Avisado said.

But Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked how much is the current DOH budget, considering the realignments made in line with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For this year, from the original budget, the adjusted budget of the DOH stands at P153.1 billion including the emergency releases to the DOH," Avisado said.

Drilon said he sees "something wrong" in earmarking a lower budget for DOH in 2021.

"I question the reduction of the DOH budget from the present P153 billion as adjusted versus P131 billion which is in the 2021 budget," he said.

"We need to improve our testing, we need to improve our contact tracing, and our ability to treat," he added.

Avisado said the government already made capital investments like testing machines this year.

"Next year, what will be covered mostly are the consumables, the test kits, and we wanted to ensure that there will be more than enough consumables to respond to the capital investments that we had this year as well as the purchase of PPEs," he said.

'Anemic' budget

Senator Cynthia Villar, on the other hand, pointed out that at present, only 30 out of 70 government-run hospitals are capable of conducting COVID-19 tests.

Senator Risa Hontiveros described the DOH budget as "anemic," ranking fifth among government agencies with the highest budget allocation, and falling behind the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, among others.

"Tinitipid po ba natin ang ating health sector sa tulong at suporta?" she asked.

Avisado said the government has to continue doing the balancing act of saving both lives and the economy, which was severely affected by the lockdowns implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is true that the the government aims to boost the health sector to address the COVID-19 pandemic. However, may we also emphasize that we cannot rely on the budget of the DOH alone in order to reduce the impact of COVID-19," he said.

He added that although the DPWH's P667.3-billion budget is way bigger compared to that of the DOH, the infrastructure projects are seen to create 1.1 million direct and indirect jobs which will "also catalyze other business activities all over the country."

Aside from the P131 billion allocated for the DOH, another P71.4 billion was earmarked for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in the proposed 2021 budget.

As of September 8, the Philippines recorded a total of 241,987 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, more than 52,000 are still active, 185,178 have recovered, and 3,916 have died. --KBK, GMA News