Philippine News Agency
Covid-19 response priority in proposed 2021 budget
The Philippine government plans to allocate its entire 2021 national budget towards addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating its socio-economic impact.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that the 2021 budget will be the nation's first "COVID-19 national budget," signifying a shift in spending priorities.
To accommodate pandemic-related expenses, some existing government projects may be deferred or sacrificed.
Before the 2021 budget is finalized, President Duterte will seek a supplemental budget from Congress to bolster the current year's response efforts.
The government is also considering borrowing funds and selling state assets to raise additional money for COVID-19 measures.
So far, the government has spent P353.7 billion on various coronavirus response initiatives.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated that President Rodrigo Duterte does not need a supplemental budget for the COVID-19 response, as the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act already grants him the authority to realign funds.
Read more →
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has mandated government agencies to implement austerity measures and postpone non-essential expenditures to safeguard funds for the ongoing COVID-19 response.
Read more →
Senator Panfilo Lacson questioned the need for a supplemental budget for the COVID-19 response, citing unused funds from the 2019 budget.
Read more →
The Philippine government has spent P352.7 billion so far in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read more →
Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to disclose specific budget cuts made for non-essential items that are being redirected to the COVID-19 response.
Read more →