P77 billion from 2019 budget available for COVID-19 relief aid
Published Apr 27, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government has around P77 billion in unused funds from the 2019 national budget that could be used to support various relief and assistance programs in the national health emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque (Czar Dancel / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque bared this during a virtual press briefing on Monday in which he also disclosed that government agencies have also been asked to identify the “uncommitted funds” in this year's national budget that can be used to augment the programs on addressing the public health emergency.
Senator Panfilo Lacson had earlier suggested funding sources, such as billions left unused in the 2019 national spending program and realignment of alleged pork insertions in the 2020 national budget, to cushion the impact of the pandemic.
Lacson made the statement after questioning Malacañang’s plan to request for a supplemental budget for the coronavirus emergency.
“There is confusion on the amount left. In fact, I take note of the well-meaning comments of Senator Ping Lacson that we supposedly have P900 billion in unspent funds for 2019,” Roque said.
“I want to make it clear, the total unreleased from the 2019 budget is not P900 billion, it is only P77 billion,” he said.
Roque said the government has so far spent P352 billion of the P397 billion authorized by Congress for the COVID-19 response under the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act (RA11469).
The programs include improvement of health care facilities and resources, emergency subsidy program for low income families, relief assistance for workers, farmers, and other sectors affected by the pandemic.
To boost the government's funds to address the pandemic, he said Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado has given government agencies until the end of the month to report the amount of “uncommitted funds” in their respective outlays for the year.
“He issued a memorandum to all agencies asking the uncommitted funds that can be used for other purpose,” he said.
“The deadline will be at the end of April so he does not yet know the amount that can be used for purposes of COVID,” he added.
On Lacson's proposal to re-align certain appropriations in Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways supposedly made by lawmakers, Roque said they will leave the matter to the line departments to make the decision.
“The different line departments, not the DBM, will decide on the realignment,” he said.
“So when it comes to the projects of senators and congressmen, we will leave the matter to Secretary Villar since majority of the projects belong to the DWPH.
We let Secretary Villar decide if the funds of the projects identified by the senators and congressmen will be realigned,” he said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque (Czar Dancel / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque bared this during a virtual press briefing on Monday in which he also disclosed that government agencies have also been asked to identify the “uncommitted funds” in this year's national budget that can be used to augment the programs on addressing the public health emergency.
Senator Panfilo Lacson had earlier suggested funding sources, such as billions left unused in the 2019 national spending program and realignment of alleged pork insertions in the 2020 national budget, to cushion the impact of the pandemic.
Lacson made the statement after questioning Malacañang’s plan to request for a supplemental budget for the coronavirus emergency.
“There is confusion on the amount left. In fact, I take note of the well-meaning comments of Senator Ping Lacson that we supposedly have P900 billion in unspent funds for 2019,” Roque said.
“I want to make it clear, the total unreleased from the 2019 budget is not P900 billion, it is only P77 billion,” he said.
Roque said the government has so far spent P352 billion of the P397 billion authorized by Congress for the COVID-19 response under the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act (RA11469).
The programs include improvement of health care facilities and resources, emergency subsidy program for low income families, relief assistance for workers, farmers, and other sectors affected by the pandemic.
To boost the government's funds to address the pandemic, he said Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado has given government agencies until the end of the month to report the amount of “uncommitted funds” in their respective outlays for the year.
“He issued a memorandum to all agencies asking the uncommitted funds that can be used for other purpose,” he said.
“The deadline will be at the end of April so he does not yet know the amount that can be used for purposes of COVID,” he added.
On Lacson's proposal to re-align certain appropriations in Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways supposedly made by lawmakers, Roque said they will leave the matter to the line departments to make the decision.
“The different line departments, not the DBM, will decide on the realignment,” he said.
“So when it comes to the projects of senators and congressmen, we will leave the matter to Secretary Villar since majority of the projects belong to the DWPH.
We let Secretary Villar decide if the funds of the projects identified by the senators and congressmen will be realigned,” he said.