Funds released under Republic Act (RA) 11494, or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” (Bayanihan 2), only amounted to less than P4.5 billion, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
In a statement on Tuesday night, the Budget department reported that it had so far released P4.41 billion out of the P140 billion worth of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic-related interventions under the law, which was signed last month.
In a breakdown, P2.52 billion was released to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the hiring and training of contact tracers; P855.19 million to the Office of Civil Defense for the construction and maintenance of isolation facilities, including billings for hotels, food and transportation; P215.47 million for the Covid-19 Local Government Support Fund; and P820 million to the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund.
“These releases were charged against the certified amount of the Bureau of the Treasury pursuant to Section 4(ss) of RA 11494,” the DBM said.
The release of another P46.20 billion was already recommended to the Office of the President (OP), it added.
The bulk, or P20.57 billion, of the said amount would go to the Department of Health’s (DoH) Covid-19-related expenses, such as human resources for health, augmentation for operations of DoH hospitals, special risk allowances, actual hazard duty pay, free life insurance, accommodation, transportation and meals for health workers, and other compensation to public and private health workers, among others.
Another P8 billion would go to the Department of Labor and Employment’s Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program and Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating
Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program; P6 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and Sustainable Livelihood Program; and P11.63 billion to the Department of Agriculture’s implementation of its Plant, Plant, Plant Program.
“The corresponding Special Allotment Release Orders will be released as soon as we receive the pertinent OP approvals,” the Budget department said.
The OP’s approval was sought, it added, considering that the funding source would be the balance of the pooled savings under Bayanihan 2 and that the authority to use savings was granted by Congress to the President.
On the remainder of the allocated amounts, the DBM said it expected departments and agencies to submit budget requests outlining the specific items of expenditures, targeted beneficiaries and anticipated outputs that are consistent with existing budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations, and reflected through their respective budget execution documents and disbursement programs.
“As soon as these requests are received, the DBM will immediately evaluate the same to ensure their alignment with the intention of RA 11494 and will recommend to the President the release of funds charged against the identified funding sources,” it added.
The department also assured the public that it provided sufficient attention to the release of funds under Bayanihan 2.
The assurance came after senators hit the DBM after discovering that it is yet to release some P24 billion alotted for agricultural loans and assistance to farmers, as well as P10 billion for the tourism sector.
Signed on September 11, the P165-billion Bayanihan 2 law involves interventions that include cash-for-work programs; skills training; social assistance programs; funding for the agriculture, tourism, transportation and education sectors; and more lending programs to help businesses survive. It will expire on December 19.