(Eagle News) — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has urged the Senate finance committee to restore what he said was the P16.8 billion that had been cut from the proposed budget for the Department of Health.
Drilon noted the P7.4 billion allotted for the funding of equipment for licensing and PhilHealth accreditation of 900 health facilities was part of that portion of the overall P28 billion that had been slashed.
“This will have very adverse effects on our health program. Maraming mate-tenggang rural health units at district hospitals,” Drilon said.
He added the move to cut the proposed budget was not in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement investment on social protection would be increased.
“I don’t think we can face our people with the revelations that there are some districts which will get P2.4 billion for farm-to-market roads and yet, here, there are about 900 health facilities that are completed and manned but would not be able to operate because the budget was cut,” Drilon said.