The Department of Management (DBM) has recently approved fresh funding to bolster the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) health research and development initiative.
Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the DBM has given the green light for the release of P179.9 billion to the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).
This funding is earmarked to support the implementation of DOST-PCHRD’s grants-in-aid program, Pangadaman said in a statement on Sunday, March 3.
Specifically, the allocated budget will be utilized for research and development, capacity building, financial assistance for researchers, organization of forums and conventions, provision of stipends for scholars, and offering financial support to State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
“Investing in health research translates to investing in a healthier and more resilient future for our nation. With this additional fund, we help empower our scientists, scholars, and institutions to drive innovation and make a lasting impact on public health,” Pangandaman said.
The DBM chief gave the go-ahead for the release of cash allocations for the program last Feb. 13 and 27.
This funding is part of the total allocation of P678.512 million alloted for the DOST grants-in-aid program.
Previously, the DBM had already released P25.646 million to support the operations of DOST-PCHRD in the first quarter of the year.
The DOST-PCHRD has a total budget of P828.955 million outlined in this year’s General Appropriations Act.
