Reps propose supplemental budget for coronavirus response

Albay Representative Joey Salceda filed House Bill 6177, proposing a P2.4 billion supplemental budget to address the novel coronavirus risks.

Fellow House member Angelina Tan filed House Bill 6166, seeking P2.04 billion to strengthen the country's health system response to contain the 2019-nCoV.

Both proposed funds are earmarked for acquiring surgical masks and personal protective equipment for persons under investigation and healthcare workers.

Tan's proposed amount is enough to purchase surgical masks and PPEs over the next three months, and includes a reporting mechanism to mandate the DOH to give a detailed account of the budget's utilization.

Salceda later modified his bill to include P20 million for additional man-hour service, sick leave, hazard pay, night shift differential, overtime pay for epidemiologists, and for additional health care contractual workers or job orders.

House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. asked the Department of Health (DOH) to submit a detailed list and plan on how it intends to spend the P1 billion supplemental budget it has requested.

Abante criticized Health Secretary Francisco Duque for not formally asking Congress for the augmentation fund, instead directing the request through a media conference.

The House Minority bloc supports actions like the suspension of big gatherings among students and the cancellation of school activities to prevent the spread of the virus.

As of Tuesday, February 4, 2020, the DOH confirmed two cases of nCoV infection in the Philippines, with 80 persons under investigation, while confirmed deaths in China reached 425.