MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening will meet with Cabinet secretaries, Metro Manila mayors and infectious diseases experts to discuss the "fastest" way to disburse a P2-billion fund to address the spread of the COVID-19, a respiratory disease that has killed nearly 4,000 people worldwide.

The meeting is expected to study how the government can fast-track the release of funds for COVID-19, Senate Health Committee chair Christopher "Bong" Go told reporters.

"Nakausap ko na si PAGCOR chairperson Andrea Domingo. Willing sila mag-set aside ng P2 billion para mabilis at ma-release nila agad sa DOH (Department of Health). Mas mabilis ito at yun ang isa sa pag-uusapan mamaya sa pagpupulong na ipinatawag ni Pangulong Duterte," he said.

While Congress can issue a supplemental budget, it will have to wait for a certification of availability of funds before it can be tackled separately in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, Go said.

Should the panel decide to get the funds through a supplemental budget, Go said he would sponsor the bill in the Senate, while House Health Committee chair Angelina "Helen" Tan would sponsor the counterpart measure.

The DOH earlier asked for a P2-billion supplemental budget to procure medical supplies for COVID-19 patients and other suspected carriers.

The Philippines was placed under a state of public health emergency earlier Monday after the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 10.