HR01225: RESOLUTION URGING THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL ONE BILLION PESOS (P1,000,000,000) FOR THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM UNDER THE BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
House Resolution No. 1225 urges the Committee on Appropriations to allocate an additional P1,000,000,000 for the National Mental Health Program under the Department of Health's budget, aiming for a total program budget of P1,615,000,000. This proposed increase is critical because the current per capita budget for mental health in 2021 (P5.69) is significantly lower than in 2017 (P12.19), despite the enactment of the Mental Health Act. The resolution emphasizes that the existing funding is grossly insufficient to address the mental health needs of Filipinos, especially the youth, and notes a concerning rise in suicide-related calls to the National Center for Mental Health hotline amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution's significance for the people lies in its direct impact on improving mental health services and support. By advocating for increased funding, it aims to restore spending to more adequate levels, enabling the immediate creation of the Mental Health Division within the DOH and the comprehensive implementation of the Mental Health Act. This additional allocation is deemed a grave necessity to provide essential medical, scientific, psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services, particularly during times of distress caused by health crises, economic decline, and high unemployment. Ultimately, the resolution seeks to uphold the constitutional right to health and ensure that Filipinos, especially those struggling with mental health challenges, receive the timely and adequate care they need.