DBM says DOH still has to determine cost of COVID-19 storage

The cost of storing COVID-19 vaccines has yet to be determined by the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday.

This came after Senator Pia Cayetano revealed on Wednesday that the proposed P212.7-billion budget for 2021 of the Health Department does not cover the cost for supply chain-related expenses such as storage of the vaccines, transportation, training of vaccinators and other incidental expenses. 

Sought for clarification, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said the “DOH still has to determine the costing particularly for the storage facilities.”

Health Undersecretary Carol Taiño earlier admitted that the warehousing allocation under the 2021 budget is not intended specifically for the COVID-19 vaccine. 

But the DOH has floated the idea of having cold storage facility in every province in the country

“Anyway, [Finance] Sec. [Carlos] Dominguez has assured PRRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) and the Cabinet that there is enough money for vaccine procurement and stirage facilities,” Avisado said.

The budget chief said the cost of COVID-19 storage “will be covered by another fund to be sourced out by the DOF (Department of Finance).”

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, also expressed optimism that the government will be able to fund requirements for vaccine storage and distribution.

“No objection po kung gusto ng Senado na dagdagan dahil iyan po’y makakabuti sa ating mga kababayan,” Roque said at a news conference on Thursday.

Cayetano said the DOF had confirmed that there were loan facilities available.

“The secretary has said that they’re quite satisfied with the budget they have for COVID response. The quarantine facilities are in place, the testing facilities are in place, the test kits are available, but they have other budgetary requirements,” the senator said.

“On the vaccine itself, there is a budget for that. It’s not sufficient but DOF has confirmed that there are loaned facilities available to include this and we’re also putting on record that we also need to provide the budget,” she added. — with Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News