Senate passes P4.5-T 2021 budget, allocates P83B for vaccines

The Philippine Senate approved the P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 on final reading, with all senators voting in favor.

The budget includes significant increases for health and COVID-19 response measures.

Senators Leila de Lima and Ronald dela Rosa were absent due to detention and illness respectively.

The Senate allocated P83 billion specifically for the purchase, storage, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines next year.