Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said President Duterte can tap the P13-billion contingency fund in the 2020 national budget to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, in the country.
Cayetano said Congress could also augment the funds of the Department of Health (DOH) and other agencies involved in responding to the public health threat, as long as it is “part of the budget.”
“Health is a priority, housing is a priority, education is a priority, the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program is a priority, so it is unavoidable that some may lack funds [in the process of implementation]…but so long as it is part of the budget, it can be augmented,” he said.
The DOH confirmed that a 38-year-old female Chinese patient under investigation (PUI) is positive for the 2019-nCoV.
“The confirmed case arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan, China, via Hong Kong last January 21, 2020. The patient sought consultation and was admitted to one of the country’s government hospitals last January 25 after experiencing mild cough,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
Duque reported that the patient is “currently asymptomatic with no fever and no signs and symptoms of any illness”.
Citing that the first 2019nCov case in the country has been detected because of the Department of Health (DOH)’s strong surveillance, Duque assured the public that DOH is on top of the situation and is in close coordination with the other government agencies and the World Health Organization. PNA
Image credits: AP