Philippines government announces 27.1B-peso budget in fight vs COVID-19

The Philippines Economic Team has rolled out a 27.1 billion-peso budget in an effort to help frontliners combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) and help those affected by the outbreak in the country.

As per the Philippines’ Presidential Communications group, the multi-billion package will be used for priority actions which include buying of test kits, economic relief, scholarship programs, and loans mainly for affected workers.

According to the budget breakdown, 3.1 billion pesos will be allotted for test kits alone; 1.2 billion pesos will be used for unemployment benefits, 3 billion pesos will be given for scholarship programs, and another 3.8 billion pesos for recovery programs and loan packages.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who chairs the President Duterte Cabinet’s Economic Development Cluster (EDC), said the measures in the package are designed to ensure that funding is available for the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) to contain the spread of COVID-19.

As of Tuesday, March 17, there are 142 coronavirus cases in the Philippines, and 12 recorded deaths connected to the illness.

Metro Manila has already been placed under a “enhanced community quarantine” status wherein classes have been suspended, malls, restaurants, and other public places have been closed, and transportation has been suspended.