Cebu City pushes P1 billion annual budget for health programs

CEBU, Philippines —  As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, P1 billion or nearly 10 percent of the annual budget for 2021 that the executive department has proposed is allotted for health.

Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said P305 million P211 million for field program and P94 million for barangay health program is set aside for the City Health Department.

At least P150 million is allocated for anti-flu and anti-pneumonia vaccines, and P576 million is appropriated for the city's hospitals.

The executive branch has lobbied for the approval of next year’s P10.8 billion budget, which is P4 million higher than this year’s approved P10.4 billion annual budget.

In a previous interview, Mayor Edgardo Labella said health programs and services are among the priorities in the annual budget.

He said the Cebu City Medical Center will be provided with additional equipment, and the city government will buy more medicines for the City Health Department.

Moreover, portions of the proposed budget are for the senior citizens (P900 million) and for the 80 barangays (P796 million).

Others are allocated for the Department of Social Welfare Services (565 million), the Department of Public Services (P539 million), the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (P383 million), and the Department of Engineering and Public Works (P225 million).

Also, the executive branch has proposed P371 million for the loan payment.

It has identified several funding sources, including the proceeds from the South Road Properties and proceeds from other revenue-generating offices/departments totaling to P3 billion.

Other sources are internal and external revenues amounting to P4.9 billion and P2.7 billion, respectively.

The proposed budget is still subject for City Council’s deliberations and approval.

Garcia said the budget hearing is scheduled in November after the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. — KQD (FREEMAN)