Photo Release

November 18, 2020

Cayetano defends DOH’s proposed 2021 budget: Sen. Pia Cayetano, vice chairperson of the Committee on Finance, defends the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Wednesday, November 18, 2020. According to Cayetano, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the gaps in the country’s health care and response system. She said the proposed national budget should focus on closing those gaps. “Investments in health care should help us build back better, guided by the principles of sustainable development and futures thinking. This requires further strengthening primary health care pursuant to the principles of the Universal Health Care law,” Cayetano said. She noted the country needs at least P15 billion to buy the cheapest COVID-19 vaccines when they become available in the market. As recommended by the World Health Organization, she said the Philippines needs to immunize at least 60 percent to 70 percent of its population to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission. (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

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