Duterte approves P2.5B more for vaccine procurement
CNN Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte greenlighted more funds to buy coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said on Saturday.
“Kaka-approve lang ng ating Pangulo ng P2.5 billion equivalent to $56 million chargeable against the 2021 contingency fund,” he said in a virtual briefing, adding that the contingency fund this year is P13 billion.
He said the amount will cover the purchase of four million vaccine doses and accompanying logisticaland administrative costs.
Avisado said the initial budget of P82.5 billion for the COVID-19 vaccination program this year is not enough.
“Sa madaling sabi hindi lang po talaga P82.5 billion ang gagastusin natin ngayong taon para sa pagbili ng vaccines kaya pati contingency fund kailangan gamitin,” he said.
“Out of the P70 billion allocation for vaccine procurement, P9.39 billion na po ang nare-release natin sa DOH (Department of Health),” Avisado said.
The government is targeting to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos by the end of 2021.
