MONDAY, FEBRU.

ARY 10' 2020

Govlt to receive
P350-m funds
for new toilets
By Rio N. Araia

THE government will receive at least

P350 million this year to be able to put
up thousands ofnew "sanitary toilet fa-
cilities" to help prevent the resurgence of
the polio virus, according to Anakatu-
sugan Paxty-list Rep. Mike Defensor
He said the fresh funding is lodged
in the Department of Health's budget
in tbe 2020 General Appropriations
Act, but the money would only be re-
leased directly to the Department of
Pi.rblic Works and Highways.
"The DPWH will construct the toi-
lets based on a list of looetions identi-
fied and specifications prescribed by
the DoH," he said.
Defensor is the vice chairperson of
the House comrfiittee on health.
"Assummg the money is spent as it
shorlld be. based a fxed cost of onlv
P20,000 p€r toilet, the P350 rninionslrouli
be enough to build some 12500 new pub-
lic toilets in most needed areas," he said-
ln another development, House Assis-
tant Majonty Leader and Quezon City
Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo reiter-
ated her call for a:r investigation inio the
irnplementation of the DoH's anti-polio
vaccine program after a new case was
recorded last month in District 2 despite
the nationwide polio vaccination.
"Many questions about the program
needs to be ansryered after a child in
Quezon City was recently diagnosed
to have polio despite baving vaccina-
tion," she said.
"I would like to know from DoH
how mady polio viruses out there
are thrcatening our chil.$ren and how
many vaccines do theyllibve to ptolect
thern," she added.

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