Page 21 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'B' issue

January 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 2 • UK & Europe Edition NEWS www.hello-philippines.com 21

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MANILA – Budget Secretary savings amounting to 16-17 percent in contraceptive budget.
Florencio Abad said on Friday that of their budget every year, from In a statement, Legarda pointed Family planning commodities at the heart of 2016 DOH budget realignment issue. Image from Gov.Ph.
unused funds of the Department the 2015 savings, DOH can source
of Health can be tapped to satisfy the last P300 million that would out that the entire budgetary DOH FHRP and the traditional for the social pension of indigent
the budgetary requirements of the complete the P900 million. process, including proceedings at the budgetary legislative process was senior citizens, worth P1.2 billion;
Reproductive Health (RH) Law Bicameral Conference Committee, followed.” state universities and colleges, P2.7
following the P1 billion realignment, “We, at the DBM, are always was done in the most transparent and billion; and first time payment
or cut, in DOH’s 2016 appropriations. working to ensure there is enough inclusive manner: “The bicameral She underscored out that the cut of total administrative disability
budgetary support for our agencies conference committee proposed the was not a unilateral act on her part, (TAD) pension for surviving spouses
“At the very least, the Department to properly implement our laws – changes in the bicameral report, but of all the bicam members from of deceased WWII veterans, and
of Health can draw P900 million from especially one as important as the which the Senate ratified as a body, both houses of Congress, supported partial payment of TAD pension for
a number of fund sources to procure RH Law,” Abad said. and was thus carried in the General by their respective technical staff. living post WWII veterans, worth
Family Planning Commodities in Appropriations Act,” Legarda said. P4.773 billion,” Legarda said. n Lira
2016,” Abad pointed out, alluding RH advocates were up in arms “We worked on the budget to
to the carryover amount of P337.5 over the budget cut, which was done Earlier, Cayetano accused ensure programs that have less Dalangin-Fernandez and Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.
million from the 2015 budget for the during the bicameral conference Legarda for hiding the P1-B budget budget or sources of funds will be
health department’s Family Health meetings headed by Senator cut from the bicameral conference augmented, such as additional funds com / January 15, 2016 / 3:07 pm
and Responsible Parenting (FHRP) Loren Legarda, finance committee committee report submitted for
Program, as mentioned by Health chairperson, and Representative plenary approval.
Secretary Janette Garin. Isidro Ungab, chairperson of the
House committee on appropriations. Legarda explained that the
The DOH can also supplement the Department of Health (DOH) Family
needed funding for Family Planning They said that Congress, Health and Responsible Parenting
Commodities from within the line particularly the Senate, reneged on (FHRP) program has an allocation of
item of the FHRP, Abad explained. its obligation to adequately fund P2.2 billion in 2016 and more than
the speedy and full implementation P1.2 billion earmarked from the last
The Budget chief said that, from of the Responsible Parenthood and quarter of 2015 to be implemented
the P2.28 billion appropriation, the Reproductive Health Law when it in 2016. “There are also projected
DOH can realign P300 million to slashed the budget for RH. savings of P8.8 billion that can be
Family Planning Commodities from used for that purpose.”
one of the components of FHRP. In a separate development,
Senator Legarda refuted the claim of Legarda said it’s not as if the
Also, Abad said, since the DOH her colleague, Senator Pia Cayetano, cut resulted in shortfalls for FHRP:
has historically managed to generate that she is trying to hide the P1-B cut “There are sufficient funds to cover