DOH: COVID-19 SPENDING

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause respiratory illness in humans. They get their
name “Corona”, from the many crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus. Severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS) and the common cold are examples of
coronaviruses that cause illness in human. The new strain of CORONAVIRUS, covid-19, was first reported
in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The virus has since spread to all continents (expect
Antarctica).Covid-19 is likely spread, when the virus travels in respiratory droplets when an infected
person coughs, sneezes, talks sings or breathes near you (within 6 feet). This is thought to be the main
way covid-19 is spread.

According to Filane Mikee Cervantes, around PHP13 billion has been allocated in the proposed
budget of the Department of Health for the government’s coronavirus disease (Covid-19) response
efforts and heart system resilience programs for next year. During the hearing of the House Committee
on Health on DOH’s proposed budget for 2021, health undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the PHP
13.03 billion allocated for Covid-19 response would cover the procurement of covid-19 vaccine for
public health workers and senior citizens under the National Immunization Program at PHP 2.5 billion.

Villaverde added that it would also include the procurement of productive gears and Covid-19 cartridges
at PHP37 billion; the operation of national reference laboratories at PHP290 million; the use of loan
proceeds from World bank and Asian Development Bank at PHP5.26 billion. He said around PHP500
million will be allotted as a quick response fund to cover health emergency response activities and cover
procure commodities and capital outlay projects, PHP286 million for the operation of blood centers, and
PHP 490 million to covid-19 warehousing, hauling, and brokerage expenses.

The total budget proposed for the DOH this 2020 amount to PHP127.29 billion, higher that this
this year’s appropriation of PHP100.56 billion.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. How to budget the Covid-19 response?

2. How to secure budget for COVID-19 response through revisions in finance laws?

RECOMMENDATION

1. Ensuring an appropriate balance between flexibility and accountability

2. Reprioritization through virements between line items or within budgetary program envelopes
( subject to threshold ) is a first permitted action to secure budget funding.

PLAN OF ACTION

STEP 1
 The agency must follow the rules and regulations. Also they should be transparent no matter
what.

Step 2

 Close monitoring of the COVID-19 with regards of the status of the monetary spending. There
should be checking of data, the financial statement to ensure the accountability of the assigned
person on releasing public fund.

Step 3

 Prioritizing what we need most. There should always be a proper allocation , to have a secure
budget funding.