Drilon: Anti-insurgency fund would be enough to pay for COVID-19 vaccines

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said the Philippine government would not need to borrow $9 billion from the World Bank to buy COVID-19 vaccines if the country's anti-insurgency fund were realigned for the purpose.

In a message, the senator said that the fund would suffice to cover the initial immunization target of the executive branch.

"[COVID-19 national task force chief Carlito] Galvez said government intends to buy an initial 50 million doses of vaccines for 25 million Filipinos. That means 2 doses per person. At US$5 [per] dose, or US$10 for 2 doses, that's US$250 million or P12.5 billion needed to immunize 25 million Filipinos," Drilon said.

"The anti-insurgency fund for 2021 is P19 billion. We do not have to borrow," he added.

The minority leader gave this opinion after Galvez, who was also appointed COVID-19 vaccine czar, said that the government is considering borrowing up to $9 billion (P435 billion) from the World Bank for the advance procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

Drilon previously said he is amenable to retain the P19-billion proposed budget for the anti-insurgency task force, on the condition that it be used for projects that would be responsive to the actual needs of communities.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict fund should focus on COVID-19 and calamity response, as well as "ayuda" and construction of housing units, he added.

Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said P18 billion was earmarked for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines under the 2021 budget—P10 billion of which will be lodged under unprogrammed appropriations.

He, nonetheless, acknowledged that the executive branch is in the best position to determine if a World Bank loan is needed for the Philippines to secure enough COVID-19 vaccines.

"Kung sa tingin na nila mayroon nang chance avaialable before 2021, why not? Kasi baka agawaan 'yan eh," Angara said in an online interview. "Kung may funding source naman sila for 2020... maaaring may savings naman sila that would answer for it, that's even better because it will free up funds in 2021 or it may extend the coverage of those who can avail of the vaccine." — BM, GMA News