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Binay reminds executive department: COVID-19 is enemy no. 1


Senator Nancy Binay on Sunday reminded the executive department that COVID-19 pandemic should be the government's priority as she slammed the slashes in the Department of Health's proposed 2022 budget.

Binay hit the budget cuts, which would affect funds for free COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and special risk allowance, as revealed during a House hearing.

Moreover, Binay cited Malacañang's placing COVID-19 booster shots under unprogrammed appropriations in next year's national budget. This means they would only be funded if the government has enough funds to raise for them.

"Yun na nga, kung matatandaan ninyo, in the past week, parang sinasabi sa mga statement ng Malacañang na naglaan talaga sila ng pondo for COVID, pero nung hinihimay na ngayon, e mukhang merong, kumbaga, hindi totoo na malaki yung na set aside na pondo para sa COVID, kasi pati nga yung Special Risk Allowance, e hindi siya kasama doon," Binay said.

(In the past week, it seemed like Malacañang was saying it would prioritize funds for COVID, but when they're scrutinized it's not true that a large amount has been set aside for COVID, as even the SRA [for health workers] was not included.)

Asked if Malacañang has wrong priorities, Binay agreed that the executive government is not prioritizing pandemic efforts.

"Parang ganun, parang hindi pa rin nakikita ng Executive na ang number 1 enemy is COVID. Dapat ang lahat ng ating pwedeng resources e kung sana, doon muna, kumbaga, pinaglaanan," the senator said.

(Yes, executive department is not seeing that its enemy number 1 is COVID-19. All resources should  be allocated to this.)

The senator earlier sounded the alarm on the non-inclusion of cancer program funds in the DOH budget for next year. — BM, GMA News

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