Philippines’ Duterte Seeks To Boost Budget 10% To Combat Virus
A worker wearing a protective mask pushes a cart along a sidewalk in Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. on Monday, July 27, 2020. In his annual address to lawmakers today, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to unveil an economic recovery roadmap. At the start of the coronavirus outbreak, Duterte said the disease would “die a natural death.” Five months later, the pandemic is raging, the economy is facing a deep contraction, and his political future could be at stake. Photographer: Geric Cruz/Bloomberg
, Bloomberg
Claire Jiao, Bloomberg News
(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking to boost the budget for next year by almost 10% to sustain the nation’s efforts to fight the pandemic.
The president will ask Congress to approve a national budget of 4.5 trillion pesos ($91.6 billion), 9.9% more than this year’s, the Department of Budget said in a statement. The money would be used to improve the country’s healthcare systems, ensure food security, increase digital and infrastructure investments and help communities recover, it said. The proposed amount is equivalent to 21.8% of gross domestic product.
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