RH gets P3.27-B budget for 2015; Metro Manila gets P2.6B

MANILA, Philippines – Reproductive health will get a P3.274-billion funding under the 2015 proposed budget submitted by Malacanang to Congress.

The amount was lodged under the item Family Health and Responsible Parenting to be implemented nationwide by the Department of Health (DoH).

The DoH is the sixth top agency that will get the bulk of the appropriation next year, with a P102.17-billion budget, up from its P87-billion budget this year.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health law, paving the way for its full implementation.

Of the P3.274-billion proposed budget, P2.664 billion will be for the implementation of the program in the National Capital Region.

The DoH also set aside P3.336 billion for the Expanded Program on Immunization; P1 billion for TB control; and, P743.91 million for Other infectious diseases and emerging and re-emerging diseases, including HIV/AIDS, dengue, food and water-borne diseases.

For Health Facilities Enhancement Program, which includes facilities of local government units and other health sector partners, the DoH proposed a budget of P5.513 billion.

Around P7.071 billion was appropriated for the Operation of Special Hospitals, Medical Centers and Institutes for Disease Prevention and Control, including the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Rizal Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and Tondo Medical Center. –Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com