PH gov’t allot over P240B for COVID-19 response in 2022
The Philippine government has allocated more than P240 billion (approximately US$4.7 billion) for its COVID-19 response in next year’s national budget, said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Out of the total budget, P93 billion (approximately US$1.9 billion) will go to the Department of Health (DOH), P33 billion (approximately US$669 million) will be given to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and P11.52 billion (approximately US$229 million) will be set aside for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will get P1.28 billion (approximately US$25 million) out of 2022’s budget, and P1.2 billion (approximately US$23 million) will go to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Additionally, The Department of Education (DepEd) will be given a budget of P99.2 billion (approximately US$1.9 billion) and the University of the Philippines (UP) will receive P140 million (approximately US$2 million).
An estimated P45.37 billion (approximately US$903 million) will be used in the procurement of COVID-19 booster shots. Although, the DOH has yet to give its approval for these shots due to a lack of data about its safety.
The government will also allot P11.29 billion (approximately US$224 million) to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) emergency repatriation and reintegration programs for overseas Filipino workers.
