Defensor stressed the importance of appropriation for vaccines that must ensure inoculation and other related expenses such as storage in a bid for the country to save lives and livelihood and return to normal life. “Nonetheless, the preference for borrowings over sure tax revenues to get our weary people out of this pandemic speaks volume of our sense of priorities,” he said. Defensor noted that the vaccines were not included in the P182.8 billion realignments approved in the bicameral conference report of the Senate and the House of Representatives. “Almost P183 billion was juggled. And none of that huge amount, not even a centavo, went to vaccine acquisition,” he said.

Source: Manila Times December 19, 2020 18:11 UTC