Proposed 2013 budget funds ‘responsible parenthood’

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III is not waiting for Congress action on the pending Reproductive Health bill. He already allocated P2.54 billion for his “family health and responsible parenting” program in the proposed 2013 national budget.

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, August 8. He said the funding for the program is included in the P56-billion budget of the Department of Health (DOH) next year.

Malacañang submitted its proposed budget for Congress approval in July.

Tañada said the funding for “family health and responsible parenting” is  “not in any way connected  with the aggressive push for the ‘RH bill‘  in Congress as it is an institutional project  of the DOH.”

“In fact, the same program is being implemented this year with the same funding level.  You can clearly see that there is no augmentation in anticipation of the RH  bill’s passage.  In short, we are not putting the funding-cart before the statutory  law- horse,” Tañada said.

More funds needed
Supportive of the pending RH bill in Congress, Tañada said the funding allocation is not enough.

“From the macro level, the amount represents about four percent of the total health budget. In fact, the question here is not on any ‘over-budgeting’  for this activity but the underspending for it,” he said.

Based on the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the allocation will be divided accordingly:

1. Central Office (259.43 million)
2. National Capital Region (144.63 million)
3. Ilocos Region (122.46 million)
4. Cordillera Administrative Region (46.3 million)
5. Cagayan Valley (56.95 million)
6. Central Luzon (161 million)
7. Calabarzon (182.69 million)
8. Mimaropa (103.45 million)
9. Bicol Region (202.2 million)
10. Western Visayas (182.69 million)
11. Central Visayas (160.4 million)
12. Eastern Visayas (158.83 million)
13. Zamboanga Peninsula (158.82 million)
14. Northern Mindanao (145.64 million)
15. Davao Region (120.17 million)
16. Soccsksargen (125.41 million)
17. Caraga Region (85.79 million)
18. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (122.58 million).
– Rappler.com