Gov’t eyes new funding for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing efforts —Palace

The government is eyeing at least P25 billion in new funding to support the expanded testing for COVID-19 and the hiring of contact tracers.

Of the P25 billion, P10 billion will go to testing subsidies while P15 billion will be spent on the cash for work program, especially on the hiring of 50,000 contact tracers, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing on Tuesday.

Roque said the amounts formed part of the proposed Bayanihan 2 law pending in Congress.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the office of Senate finance committee chairperson Sonny Angara received on Tuesday the Executive department’s proposed amendments to the Bayanihan 2 bill in the Senate, which proposed an appropriation of P140 billion for COVID-19 response and recovery interventions.

“Sinisigurado lang po natin na mayroong sapat na pondo na magagamit para sa stimulus package. Ang posisyon po ni [Finance] Secretary [Carlos] Dominguez, hanggang P140 billion na muna po tayo ngayon,” Roque said.

Roque added that the Palace was not calling for a special session of Congress for now to expedite the passage of Bayanihan 2, which seeks to succeed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which expired on June 24.

“Mukhang kakayanin naman po na i-discuss na itong Bayanihan 2, during the regular congress because, after all, State of the Nation [Address] is just around the corner in July,” he said.

Congress will only resume session on July 27. —LDF, GMA News