MANILA – Minority Leader Franklin Drilon proposed Tuesday to restore the P24.2-billion budget cut from the Department of Health, using funds from the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The funds have been questioned by lawmakers, claiming these were inserted without know of the departments concerned.
The P16.8 billion for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) and P7.4 billion for Human Resource for Health, which were slashed by the Department of Budget, could be sourced from the additional budget given to the DILG and DPWH.
“Would the gentleman accept an amendment, which would increase the budget of the Department of Health by a total of P24.2 billion, subject to refinement? I hope the good sponsor would be able to push this in the amendments at the Committee on Finance so that we can respond to the health needs of our people rather than (fund) the flood control projects,” he said.
The gentleman Drilon was referring to, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, sponsored the DOH budget at the plenary.
Ejercito agreed with Drilon’s proposal.
Both the DILG and DPWH were given funds without their prior knowledge, according to the Minority Leader.
Some senators have agreed to delete P75 billion of additional budget from DPWH.
Lawmakers also questioned the DILG’s P9-billion Allocation for Local Government.
If the budget cut against DOH is not restored, a number of health facilities – either wholly or partially completed – would remain unutilized to the detriment of the poor and the vulnerable, Drilon said.
There are 900 health facilities that are 100 percent complete and with existing human resource, but lack the equipment for licensing and Philhealth accreditation, the senator said.
On top of that are 328 health facilities that are at least 80 to 90 percent complete are in danger of not getting finished due to the budget cut.
Sen. Loren Legarda, finance committee chairperson, earlier agreed with Drilon, vowing to work with him in restoring the DOH’s budget.
Ejercito, also chairman of the committee on health, thanked Drilon for pushing for the restoration of the DOH budget.
“This will be a great preparation as we anticipate the first year of the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Program. This is the beauty of the Senate, we cross party lines for the interest of the Filipino people,” he said after the hearing.
Heath secretary Francisco Duque III expressed optimism that the budget augmentation would decrease the number of patients crowding and waiting in government hospitals.
“Alam mo naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakapunuan ng pasyente sa ospital kasi walang downstream delivery unit for primary care sa mga barangay. So imbes na yung sakit kaya tugunan sa mababang facility nagtatakbuhan sa ospital lahat,” he said.
“Kaya kahit na ‘yung spontenous delivery, ‘yung normal na pangangak, o ‘yung mga sakit na hindi naman kabigatan ay kailangan pa ba sa ospital eh naka-crowd out ‘yung nangangailangan ng hospital care,” he added. (GMA News)
