State funds released to various government agencies for their coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response programs have so far reached P376.57 billion, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Thursday. Other agencies that received more than P1 billion were the Department of Finance (DoF) with P88.13 billion; Department of Health, P48.97 billion; Department of Labor and Employment, P12.58 billion; Department of Agriculture, P11.38 billion; Department of Education, P10.91 billion; and Department of National Defense, P1.35 billion. The Department of Public Works and Highways got P842.66 million; Department of the Interior and Local Government, P747.92 million; state universities and colleges, P400 million; Department of Trade and Industry, P203 million; Department of Science and Technology, P53.23 million; Department of Foreign Affairs, P5.09 million; and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, P500,000. The Covid-19 response programs under these agencies cover disadvantaged or displaced workers during the pandemic; grants to cities, municipalities and provinces; and purchase of coronavirus detection kits, among others. “We cannot fight a pandemic with a weak economy, nor can we restore economic vigor without solving the public health crisis.

Source: Manila Times August 20, 2020 16:37 UTC