Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles has expressed his support behind the call of President Rodrigo Duterte call for Congress to hold a special session to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the country.
“Suportado natin ang panawagan na special session unang-una para maaksyunan ang supplemental budget na hinihingi ng Department of Health para matugunan ang COVID-19,” said Nograles.
“We can work through a virtual session that the public can also access through social media.”
The House Committee on Appropriations last week approved a P1.65 billion supplemental budget for the Department of Health (DOH) to respond to the current public health crisis.
However, Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-An said the DOH needs P3.1 billion to procure more test kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs), and pay for the salaries of additional frontline personnel recruited to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The DOH originally asked for a budget of P2.35 billion.
So far, 307 Filipinos have been infected with COVID-19, with 19 deaths recorded.
The neophyte lawmaker said Congress is ready to do its part to help arrest the spread of the disease.
He admitted there would be challenges to convening a quorum amid the enforced quarantine, but expressed confidence Congress could come up with creative ways to get around these challenges.
“Nariyan ang teknolohiya na tutulong sa atin. I’m sure we can work through a virtual session that the public can also access through social media, among others,” Nograles said.
“Ang mahalaga, makapagpulong kami sa lalong madaling oras. Hindi lang ito usapin ng dagdag na budget. Kailangan din na magkaroon pa ng dagdag na mekanismo para matulungan ang mga mahihirap na limitado ang kakayanan na harapin ang panganib na dala ng sakit na ito,” Nograles added.