House seeks more funds to fight COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Saying the P27.1-billion stimulus package of the national government will not suffice, House leaders are calling for additional fiscal measures to augment funds to address the surge in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases.

Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte and ways and means committee chairman Joey Salceda proposed measures to raise around P200 billion to respond to the pandemic.

Villafuerte proposed a cut in the budget of government agencies to ensure funds that will boost the government’s economic stimulus programs.

He asked the Department of Budget and Management to cut outlays for non-essential expenditures under this year’s P4.1-trillion national budget and convert them into what he called as “forced savings.”

“Forced savings in non-essential spending, such as foreign travel or the purchase of brand new vehicles, office supplies and equipment, should go to a pool that the national government could use to expand and extend its programs to cushion the economic fallout from the pandemic and to better equip the country’s health workers,” Villafuerte said.

He said a five to 10 percent savings of the national budget could amount to P200 billion to P400 billion, “a sizeable amount that the government could use for a protracted battle against this lethal pathogen.”

While he welcomed the fiscal stimulus package of the Duterte administration, Villafuerte said more funds could be needed to provide living allowance for dislocated workers as well as cash transfers and food rations for underprivileged sectors to be hardest hit by the community quarantine and economic slowdown in the event of a prolonged health crisis.

He said the savings could be also used to purchase an ample supply of COVID-19 testing kits and personal protective equipment for doctors, nurses and other health workers.

“In case the pandemic is contained sooner than later, the Duterte administration could use the would-be savings to spend more on its priority programs on infrastructure and social services, which in turn would further energize the domestic economy after the present health crisis,” Villafuerte said.

Salceda proposed a comprehensive coronavirus safety nets package for Filipino workers and families that would require funding of at least P170 billion.

He filed the proposed Filipino Families First Act that will prioritize small and medium enterprises.

“The spending plan I proposed is worth P169.9 billion, with P85.5 billion surely recoverable and P84.4 billion as net cost,” he said.

He also proposed a P45-billion fund for the tourism sector.

Salceda’s measure also covers those who cannot go to work due to the enhanced community quarantine by placing them temporarily under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. 

The House appropriations committee approved a proposed P1.65-billion supplemental budget for DOH’s purchase of PPE for medical personnel. The measure was not immediately brought to the plenary for deliberations and approval due to lack of the urgency certification from the Palace.