Duque admits Philippine COVID-19 war chest lags behind ASEAN peers

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday admitted that the Philippines' war chest or overall budget for the COVID-19 response lagged behind its peers in Southeast Asia.

“I will have to admit that our fund, in particular ‘yung COVID fund natin, we are ranked number 6,” Duque said during the virtual celebration of “12.12” International Universal Health Coverage Day.

“Number one diyan is, in terms of absolute amount, hundred plus billions ang Indonesia. Ang Malaysia or Singapore nasa second or third. Ang Vietnam or Thailand fifth. Tayo panghuli nasa 21 billion dollars tayo,” Duque said.

Based on the Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 Policy Database, as of November 30, Indonesia has the largest COVID-19 response package at $116.33 billion, followed by Singapore with a total package of $89.14 billion.

Third is Thailand with $84.09 billion, fourth is Malaysia with $80.7 billion. Vietnam came in fifth with a total package of $26.96 billion, and the Philippines was sixth with a $21.64 billion total COVID-19 war chest.

“Kulang ito. Pero kahit kulang at di mapapantayan ang kasama sa ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) naipapakita naman natin magaling pa rin ang ating pinakita,” Duque said, noting that the Philippines was able to reduce the number of active cases as well as the rate of increase in confirmed infections. — DVM, GMA News