The House of Representatives, voting 231-0 without abstention, approved on third and final reading the supplemental budget of P1.161 billion for 2018 to provide assistance to Dengvaxia vaccinees.
House Bill 7449, authored by lawmakers led by Speaker Bebot Alvarez, authorizes the amount of P1,161,710,000 as supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2018 to provide assistance to Dengvaxia recipients.
The appropriated amount shall be used exclusively for the following programs, activities and projects of the Department of Health (DOH):
1) Medical Assistance Program for Dengvaxia Vaccinees either Confined or Outpatient – P945,828,000;
2) Public Health Management (Assessment and Monitoring of Dengvaxia Vaccinees, including the acquisition of supplies and medicines, provided that not more than P25,000,000 shall be used for the procurement of Dengvaxia Assistance Cards) – P148,296,000; and
3) Human Resources for Health Deployment – P67,586,000
The measure mandates the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the amount to the DOH in accordance with budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.
On the other hand, the DOH shall issue the corresponding guidelines necessary for the proper implementation of the measure.
The bill provides that the amount appropriated shall be used for the purposes indicated and shall be subject to the relevant special and general provisions of Republic Act No. 10964 or the FY 2018 General Appropriations Act.
It further states that the appropriations authorized in the Supplemental Budget shall be valid for release and obligation from the date of the effectivity of the measure until fully spent.
Other authors of the bill include Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Deputy Speakers Mercedes Alvarez and Frederick Abueg, and Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles.