MANILA, Philippines — Senators have agreed to increase the funding for the procurement, storage, and distribution of vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) under the proposed P4.5-trillion 2021 budget, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Sunday. Sotto, however, could not yet provide the specific amount agreed upon by the senators for the inoculation drive. I am not sure of the amount,” he said in a text message when asked to confirm if lawmakers from the Senate have agreed to increase the proposed funding for the vaccines. The proposed funding for the COVID-19 vaccination program, lodged under the proposed budget of the Department of Health (DOH), amounts to at least P2.5 billion. Some senators have earlier called for an increased budget for the vaccines even before this confirmation from Sotto.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 22, 2020 04:07 UTC