Senator Grace Poe asked the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expedite the release of funds to hospitals and health workers, amid the threat of the more contagious Delta variant.

"We've been in this trying situation for over a year and both the DBM and PhilHealth have last year's experience to draw from to improve their services in the next round of ECQ (enhanced community quarantine)," Poe said.

Calls on the said agencies for the timely release of funds needed to combat the pandemic have been repeatedly made by various institutions.

"We must do our utmost for the health sector and ensure that our medical frontliners and hospitals are paid to enable them to look after the sick and save lives. For as long as this isn't done, our situation will just drag on. Huwag na nating paabutin pa ng season 10 ang ECQ," Poe reiterated.

Poe stressed that with COVID-19 cases on the rise again, the country’s hospitals must be adequately staffed and stocked with the needed supplies. “They can only do so if they themselves aren't bleeding. We ought not to exacerbate an already tenuous situation by demoralizing our medical frontliners," Poe maintained.

The government will once again impose the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20 amid the rising cases and the threat of Delta variant.

"People will not insist on going out if they can put food on the table. They wouldn't have to go out if their needs are met," Poe said.

Each week of ECQ would cost the economy P105 billion in foregone output, the National Economic and Development Authority earlier said.