Budget and FinancingNutrition National Government Budget billion in 2018 to Php 15.64 billion in 2019. The lower allocation was due to the shift to cash-based budgeting for 2019 that led to the adjustment of budget ceilings of programs.9 Note that HFEP budget allocation is intended not only for RPRH services, but also for other programs of the DOH. Based on DOH and POPCOM allocations, the national government budget for the implementation of the RPRH Law in 2019 amounted to a combined Php 26.32 billion [Table 1]. The DOH remains to be the main source of funds for initiatives under the RPRH Law, accounting for 98 percent of the combined budget. The DOH 2019 budget for RPRH law implementation represents 26 percent of its total budget of Php 97.6 billion. On the other hand, POPCOM allocated Php 877.82 million in 2019 to cover the programs on reproductive health/family planning, adolescent health development/population, and development integration, among others. Of the combined allocations in 2019, 78 percent was obligated by DOH and POPCOM at the end of the fiscal year. It can be noted though that the budget utilization of the Family Health and Responsible Parenthood (FHRP) line item was only at 49 percent owing to delays in the procurement of commodities. Some of the reasons were: 1) suppliers cannot commit to deliver the goods within the timeline to comply with the cash-based budgeting; 2) some commodities have no bidders, hence led to bid failure; 3) some commodities are already adequate for next year’s use. There was a 37 percent decline in the combined 2019 budget for RPRH compared to the 2018 budget allocation of Php 41.87 billion. The decrease was largely due to a reduction in the budget for the Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP) by nearly half from Php 30.27 9 newsinfo.inquirer.net/1111853/dohs-low-budget-use-continues-unused-funds-amount-to-billions?fbclid=IwAR3FYnPULhSGJPX3p8dhHyWTRUIJMXS--UG5SPc8vRpfHxUtJODZr4bBciw Table1: Indicative National Government Budget Allocation and Obligation for RPRH 2018 and 2019 Agency/Program 2018 Adjusted Allotment for RPRH 2018 Total Obligation (in billion PhP) (in billion PhP) DOH • Family Health and Responsible Parenthood (FHRP) • Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) • Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP) POPCOM Total Source: Department of Health 2019 Adjusted Allotment for RPRH 2019 Total Obligation (in billion PhP) (in billion PhP) 41.35 3.64 37.85 (92%) 2.25 (65%) 25.44 2.25 19.65 (77%) 1.10 (49%) 7.44 7.30 (98%) 7.55 6.85 (91% 30.27 28.30 (93%) 15.64 11.70 (75%) 0.52 41.87 0.51 (98%) 38.36 (92%) 0.88 26.32 0.81 (93%) 20.46 (78%) 31 2019 Annual Report Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012