THE national government is proposing a P240.74-billion budget for the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic response for 2022, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said on Thursday, August 19, 2021.
Roque said P93.78 billion will be allocated to the Department of Health for the enhancement and establishment of health facilities, Covid-19 testing centers and One Hospital Command Center, prevention and control of communicable diseases, assistance to indigent technology, procurement of equipment and medical supplies, and hiring of personnel for Covid-19 response, among others.
This budget also includes a P45.36 billion allocation for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccine booster shots.
The Department of Labor and Employment will get P33.6 billion for its livelihood and emergency employment programs, as well as repatriation program and reintegration services for overseas Filipino workers.
Roque said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be allotted P11.5 billion for its promotive social welfare programs while the Department of trade and industry will get P1.203 billion for its livelihood programs.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be allotted P1.27 billion for the establishment of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines and for research and development support to the national Covid-19 initiatives.
The biggest chunk of the national government’s budget for Covid-19 response will be for the Department of Education (Deped) at P99.19 billion, which will include P28.7 billion for the maintenance and other operating expenses of schools as well as P26.5 billion for government assistance and subsidies.
The Covid-19 response budget is part of the over P5-trillion national budget for 2022, which is equivalent to 22.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 11.5 percent higher than the 2021 national budget.
Roque said the Department of Budget and Management is expected to submit the budget proposal to Congress on Monday, August 23. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)