House bicam members asked to consider extra P10B for DoH
SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proposed an additional P10 billion in funding for the Department of Health (DoH) to the House contingent of the bicameral conference committee tasked to harmonize the 2019 budget bills.
Of this total, P5 billion will be allocated for Health Facilities program, with the remainder going to the Health Human Resources Development.
“There should be consistent support to our health sector because DoH plays a very crucial and frontline role and in the never-ending need for sufficient and timely health care especially in our poor communities,” the Speaker said in a statement on Sunday.
“It needs all the funding support it can get especially in the light of the passage of the Universal Health Care bill.”
The Speaker made the proposal after Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III asked for more funding for the completion of over 1,000 health facilities.
The additional funds will also help avert layoffs of some 6,000 health personnel including doctors, nurses and dentists.
Ms. Arroyo had earlier asked the House contingent, led by Appropriations Committee chair Rolando G. Andaya, Jr. of the 1st district of Camarines Sur, to include in the 2019 General Appropriations Bill an additional P20 billion for the Department of Agriculture and P350 million for the Department of Public Works and Highways for land acquisition for a housing project to accommodate over 8,000 urban poor families at the National Government Center in Quezon City.
The Bicameral Conference Committee is set to reconvene on Monday at the Manila Polo Club to resume work in reconciling the House and Senate versions of the budget bill.
Separately, Mr. Andaya reiterated that the budget proceedings should be made public to ensure transparency.
“We stand firm in our earlier position to allow the media to cover the bicam proceedings. All amendments to the proposed budget must be discussed in the bicam and must be known to the public,” Mr. Andaya said in a statement Sunday.
“If we don’t see it in the bicam, it’s pork. If we don’t approve it in the bicam, then it’s also pork.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan
