Gov't prioritizes health and food security for 2021 budget

The government's top priorities for 2021 national budget is health and food security. The national budget for year 2021 is P4.3 trillion, said the Department of Budget and Management.

Photo credit: dbm.gov.ph

The proposed 2021 budget is higher by 5 percent compared to this year's P4.1 trillion.

Budget Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo who serves as a primer ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's 5th State of the Nation Address said in a forum, "The priority of the government as far as moving forward is basically... the focus is on the health sector."

Philippines prepare P4.3 trillion budget in 2021 which focus on fighting the pandemic and for health spending. Toledo said that the government plans to ramp up spending on medical facilities, purchasing necessary medical equipment and COVID-19 test kits, and ensuring sufficient deployment of health workers as the pandemic continues.

In terms of ensuring food supply, the government would continue to provide equipment to farmers for modernization, Toledo said. It is to ensure the unhampered movement of agricultural goods and services through efficient transport and logistics system.

The government spending for next year would still be directed towards fighting the coronavirus pandemic, according to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado.

As of July 15, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 58,850 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,392 new cases on Wednesday.

The DOH said that the number of recoveries further rose to 20,976 after 517 more patients have survived the disease.