Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has submitted a US$3.4 million supplemental budget proposal to Olbiil era Kelulau for consideration. The proposal allocates US$3.4 million and appropriates US$2.7 million.
In his transmittal letter, Whipps emphasised that the bill addresses a significant shortfall in the nation’s health care system. Nearly half of the proposed budget, US$1.58 million, is designated for the Ministry of Health and Human Services, primarily to hire new nurses. “Without a budget authorisation, we cannot hire anyone, and that is what this supplemental budget aims to resolve,” Whipps explained.
Whipps further stated, “Without proper health care, people may move away in search of better options, which not only reduces our population base but also impacts our workforce, overall productivity, and social structure.”
The proposed bill also allocates US$600,000 to cover 75 percent of interest and 100 percent of penalties accrued from commercial loans issued by the National Development Bank of Palau (NDBP) that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional programmes funded under the third supplemental budget proposal include marine transport costs for the Southwest Islands, the Bureau of Land and Survey, Palau Housing Authority, the Financial Institutions Commission, and the Office of Special Prosecutor