No allocation for subsidies for local makers of health supplies, PPEs under 2021 budget —solon

Published September 29, 2020 12:51 PM By ERWIN COLCOL,GMA News

There is no allocation under the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 to provide subsidies for local manufacturers of health supplies and personal protective equipment (PPEs), a lawmaker said Tuesday.

Bukidnon Representative Manuel Zubiri made the admission during the House plenary deliberations on the proposed budget of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) upon questioning of Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas.

"Wala po silang budget for subsidies. How I wish na mabigyan ng subsidy," Zubiri said.

"Kasi sa maraming bansa sa Southeast Asia, sa Europe o sa North America, nagbibigay sila ng subsidies for their workers and for the manufacturing sector. At least sa pambayad lang sa sweldo ng mga empleyado nila. Pero dito sa atin, wala," he added.

During her interpellation, Brosas lamented the "inadequate" response of the government on the pandemic and its impact on various sectors of the society.

She cited the recent study of international medical journal The Lancet, which ranked the Philippines 66th out of 91 countries

in suppressing COVID-19, partly due to the “medical populism” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Kailangan matugunan first and primarily yung health problem o necessity na kinakaharap natin sa ngayon. At mahalaga na may kumpiyansa sa gobyerno dapat kung ganun. Pero kapag hindi ganyan ang response ng gobyerno, magkakaproblema talaga tayo," Brosas said.

"Ano mang budget ang ilagak natin, ilagay natin sa kahit anong ahensya, kung hindi natin yun magagawan ng solusyon, magkakaproblema at magkakaproblema ang health and economy ng ating bansa," she added.

Zubiri, who also serves as vice chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, said he would see to it that Brosas' concerns involving local manufacturers of health supplies and PPEs will be addressed.

"Kung mabigyan natin ng budget, then definitely they will accept and they will make sure that will make use of it properly," he said.

"I'll make sure na lahat ng mga requests ng ating mga colleagues ay talagang maaksyunan nila at babantayan ng komite ang kanilang trabaho, day to day, especially during this time of pandemic," Zubiri added.

The DTI is proposing a budget of P22.4 billion for next year. —KBK, GMA News

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