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Philippines : RH Law implementation continues despite budget cut
Publish Date : 15-Jan-2016
The Department of Health (DOH) together with the Senate Committee on Finance and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had a meeting last January 11, 2016 to discuss the issue on the said budget reduction.
The DOH learned that in the 2016 General Appropriations Act, the budget for the line item family health and responsible parenting, was reduced from P3.2 billion to P2.2 billion. This was proposed during the bicameral conference committee by the Senate Committee on Finance, and was subsequently approved.
The P1 billion cut affects the procurement of family planning commodities. The remaining P2.2 billion is intended for the purchase of vaccines and micronutrients, medicines, and dental supplies. Realigning the remaining P2.2 billion for the purchase of family planning commodities is not possible because this will mean sacrificing immunization, nutrition and other health programs, which already have identified beneficiaries. These programs are also important in meeting our countrys commitments for the Sustainable Development Goals, Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin said.
While it is true that the P1 billion budget for family health and responsible parenting was cut, the DOH will continue to procure family planning commodities using the P337.5 million sourced from the 2015 budget. The department is looking for other sources of funds, which may include agency savings identified and declared at the end of the year, as well as assistance from developmental partners. The Aquino Administration through the DOH assures the full implementation of the RH Law despite these challenges.
