At least听P4.2B in DoH 2022听budget听could be realigned for booster shots听听
THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) could realign P4.23 billion听in its proposed 2022 budget to buy booster shots of coronavirus vaccines,听according to a congressman.听听听
Cebu Rep. Vincent Franco D. Frasco, sponsor of the DoH budget, said during a House budget plenary hearing Tuesday evening that the agency听could reallocate funds from its budget on听maintenance and other operating expenses听and听low-impact programs.听听
The听DoH听included听P45.3 billion in unprogrammed funds听for听booster听shots听under the听2022 National Expenditure Program, which means the budget will only be utilized听if the government earns enough revenue for听it.听听听听
The country鈥檚听Vaccine Expert Panel听has yet to give a recommendation on the use of booster shots and how many doses will have to be procured.听听
Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo suggested to consider realigning funds from programs with historically low utilization rates such as Health Systems Strengthening Program and Public Health Program.听听
These programs in 2020 had a utilization rate from 40% to 65%听but are proposed to听get increases in听next year鈥檚 budget.听听
If realigned, the agency can generate P21.6 billion, according to the congresswoman.听听听
鈥淲hy do we force ourselves to increase programs that historically did not have their budgets fully utilized now that there is a pandemic and there are more urgent needs,鈥澨齭he said.听听听听
Mr. Frasco听explained听that these programs had low utilization rates in 2020 due to restrictions brought by the pandemic.听听听听
鈥淭he reason why they are still allocated with the same amount for next year is in the hope that there will be less restrictions with respect to COVID,鈥澨齢e said.听听听
Meanwhile, the DoH also requested for an additional P49 billion from Congress to fund benefits and other allowances of healthcare workers.听听
Mr. Frasco said the agency would need a total of P51.2 billion听for this.听
In a previous hearing, Health听Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the DoH has听no听allocation听for听healthcare worker听allowances听next year as it was slashed by the听Department of Budget and Management.听听
Ms. Quimbo also questioned the听鈥渓ow鈥澨齯tilization of the agency鈥檚 funds for this year.听听听
鈥淲e give a huge budget (to the听DoH) because there is a big need for public health, but we see that there听are听still a huge chunk (of the budget) that is left unspent based on the financial reports,鈥澨齭he said in Filipino.听听
She also听pointed out undisbursed funds amounting to P37 billion and P59 billion in 2019 and 2020,听respectively.听听听
The DoH has听so far听obligated P168.3 billion and disbursed P94.26 billion or 38.1% of the agency鈥檚 P246.9 billion budget for this year, according to Mr. Frasco.听听听
He said听bulk of the disbursement would听usually occur starting September to October of the year.听听听听
The听DoH听has a proposed听P242.2-billion budget for next year,听of听which P19.67 billion is allotted听specifically听for pandemic response.听鈥斕齊ussell Louis C. Ku听
