P111 million budget proposed for CHAMP coverage

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP) has proposed a budget of P111 million for next year.

This is P195 million less than the CHAMP’s budget this year which is at P306.8 million.

CHAMP officer-in-charge Jundel Bontuyan said the budget for 2020 is bigger since their office was also included in a Supplemental Budget.

“Nag-supplemental man pud pag last July og 100 million para sa CHAMP maong dako pa gyud siya,” said Bontuyan.

During the budget hearing with the City Council, he said said P10 million of the proposed P111 million will be allocated for the purchase of drugs and medicines.

These drugs and medicines include eposino, insulin, Symbicort, and anti-rabies.

This 2020, CHAMP also has the same budget for the item and the remaining balance is at P1 million.

For the office supplies, P1 million will be allocated same as this year.

However, Bontuyan said the P1 million budget for this year was not utilized because their office asked for supplies from the Department of General Services.

He said they still allocated an amount for next year in case they will not be given supplies by other departments anymore.

CHAMP allocated a budget amounting to P96.2 million for other maintenance and operating expenses-medical assistance.

For this year, the budget is at P292 million with a remaining balance of P74.7 million.

Bontuyan said they opted to decrease the amount since some beneficiaries  resort to non-admission to hospital due to tedious processes like swab test and isolation.

Also, P1.5 million is allocated for the insurance of elected officials and head of offices. This is the same amount as this year, which was also not utilized.

The CHAMP also allocated P2.3 million budget for the salary of the 25 job order employees under their office.

This year, P2.3 million was also allocated for the JOs under CHAMP. —KQD (FREEMAN)