Drilon likens P72.5-B COVID-19 vaccine budget to unfunded check

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Friday likened the P72.5 billion the government has earmarked for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines to an unfunded check.

"Sana po hindi mag-bounce," Drilon said in a statement reiterating his concerns about the lack of a definite source of funds to immunize around 60 million Filipinos in 2021.

Under the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, only P2.5 billion out of the P72.5 billion funding for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines is funded.

The remaining P70 billion, according to Drilon, is in the unprogrammed fund – the funding for which depends on approved loans or once the government exceeds its non-tax revenues targets.

"It is unfortunate that in these uncertain times, the budget is creating additional uncertainty. This makes Filipinos wary about the future," Drilon said.

Senator Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate finance panel, has assured the public that the P70 billion, despite being an unprogrammed fund, is "solid."

But despite this assurance from Angara, Drilon said he still sees the health system as "a big question mark... because of the very fluid plans for the acquisition, funding of the vaccine and the logistical expense that goes with it."

Drilon has earlier called out the Duterte administration
for submitting a “business-as-usual” budget, saying 2021 national budget exposes the government's misplaced priorities.

Last month, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said around P73 billion would be needed to vaccinate 60 million Filipinos and achieve herd immunity.

This could be financed through loans and other bilateral agreements with countries that are developing vaccines, according to him. —KBK, GMA News