Robredo’s P500-B COVID-19 response plan won’t rely on loans, new appropriations — Pangilinan

Presidential aspirant Leni Robredo’s P500-billion COVID-19 response plan will be funded through the national budget and new loans will not be necessary, her running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan said Saturday.

“Na-identify ang P500 billion worth of existing appropriations na puwedeng i-realign para matugunan nang mas maayos ang COVID-19 response natin,” Pangilinan said at a press conference in Sorsogon.

(We’ve identified P500 billion worth of existing appropriations which can be realigned for a better COVID-19 response.)

“Hindi na kailangan ng bagong budget, hindi na kailangan ng new appropriations, hindi rin kailangang mangutang,” the vice presidential aspirant said.

(There will be no need for a new budget, new appropriations, and there will be no need to tap loans.)

The Duterte administration has secured multi-billion dollar loans from foreign creditors to support its COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Robredo earlier said that among the budgetary items eyed to be realigned for pandemic response are the P4.5-billion discretionary fund lodged under the Office of the President (OP) and the approximately P54-billion special purpose funds in various departments.

The Vice President also said that her office is also looking at funds that can be sourced from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Health, and the OP.

The identified funds will only be realigned to priority programs to address the pandemic as well as help the economy recover and revive the livelihoods of Filipinos, Pangilinan said.

Early this month, Robredo unveiled her COVID-19 response plan, which focuses on strengthening the health care system, financial aid, and the reopening of schools to help the country emerge from the pandemic. — VBL, GMA News