Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez from Cagayan De Oro urged Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to make a commitment that he will not transfer any funds for 2022 to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Rodriguez said that the Department of Health (DOH) should be the one to procure its own supplies and funds instead of transferring them to DBM due to conflicts in procurement procedures. 

Rodriguez also added that the Php 19.6 billion funds for the personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks, face shields, and Covid 19 testing kits should not be transferred by DOH to the PS-DBM. 

“You are not going to give any single centavo of this P19.680 billion to PS-DBM,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez proposed that the Php 45 million budget for the COVID-19 booster shots should be included under the regulatory program to ensure the availability of funds in the procurement of the needed vaccine supply. 

Duque also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic might last for another one to two years so more vaccines are needed to attain herd immunity.

Rodriguez reminded Duque to prioritize the special risk allowance (SRA) and meals, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) allowance of health workers.

On the other hand, Duque assured not only the health workers but also the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) to request funds from the DBM for the MAT allowance under the Bayanihan Law 2. 

Photo Credit: Facebook/RufusBRodriguez