DBM taps P189.8 B in unreleased budget to boost COVID-19 funds
Published Apr 6, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geucos and Genalyn Kabiling
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has identified P189.823 billion in unreleased appropriations from the budget in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 that may be discontinued and used to fund the government's efforts against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
In his monthly report to Congress, President Duterte said P186,500,169 from the 2020 budget and P3,322,920 from the 2019 continuing appropriations may be used to fund COVID-19-related interventions.
Of the total unreleased appropriations, P4.209 billion was sourced from Special Purpose Funds. The unreleased appropriations shall be utilized to fund the following:
- To provide for additional requirements of existing programs/activities/projects (P/A/Ps) of concerned NGAs/GOCCs and/or requirements for new P/A/Ps in support of the response measures of the government against COVID-19; and
- To provide for any deficiencies that may be incurred under the Special Purpose Fund, i.e., National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) and Contingent Fund.
The President said the DSWD has already received P100 billon out of the P200 billion requested for the two-month emergency subsidy program for low-income families.
As of April 2, the DSWD has released P16.3 billion to the accounts of 3.7 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. At total of 190,217 food packs have also been distributed to beneficiaries.P100 billion in allotments has already been released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Based on President Duterte's report, line departments were also assisting the DBM in determining the P/A/Ps that may be discontinued to generate savings and augment COVID-19 response measures.
The DBM has also released P5,078,634,846 in allotments to the Departments of Health (DOH), of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and DSWD; and P5,182,118,128 in cash allocations to the DOH; DSWD; DILG; and the Departments of Science and Technology (DOST) and of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Other measures
In the same report, Duterte said Land Bank of the Philippines has paid out P6 billion for 1.1 conditional cash transfer beneficiaries of the DSWD. The payment of P2.6 billion to around 333,000 drivers under the Department of Transportation program will also commence soon.
As of April 3, the Department of Labor and Employment has provided P441.9 million worth of subsidy to 88,388 workers from 6,923 establishments affected by the quarantine measures. Under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), the government will give P5,000 cash assistance to workers displaced by the lockdown.
The Department of Labor and Employment has also allocated P174.5 million for the 55,934 displaced workers availing themselves of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD)-Barangay ako, Bahay Ko (BKBK) program. Around P294 million have been approved for the salary payment and purchase of protective gear and cleaning materials for the TUPAD program.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has approved the benefit packages to cover the expenses of patients with coronavirus. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has also agreed to transfer P420 million to PhilHealth for COVID-19 related packages.
On consumer protection, the President said the national government has closely monitored the enforcement of urgent measures to fight price gouging while the country is under a state of calamity.
He said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has so far launched 544 campaigns against hoarding and profiteering that resulted in 64 arrests.
At least 96 persons have been arrested in 110 joint law enforcement operations for violations of various consumer, food, drug, price, and cybercrime laws.
The DILG also reported the arrest of 594 people for hoarding, profiteering and manipulation of prices of basic commodities.
The Department of Agriculture has implemented the Expanded Survival and Recovery Aid and Recovery Project that proves zero interest loans to farmers, fishermen and micro and small enterprises. So far, the project has reached 113,570 farmer beneficiaries. A loan payment moratorium has been implemented to benefit 244,044 farmers and fishermen borrowers.
The agriculture department has also provided P5,000 cash grants to rice farmers through the Land Bank cash cards.
To support households and small businesses, the DTI has also launched Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay Program, expanding the Negosyo Center services to serve barangays. The program includes packages amounting to P5,000 to P8,000 to qualified affected individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to support their enterprises during the crisis. The program aims to benefit 3,592 barangays, 359,200 participants and 17,960 MSMEs.
The government also authorized a 30-day grace period on the payment of commercial rents of MSMEs during the quarantine period with no interest penalties and other charges.
Land Bank also launched a P10-billion Help via Emergency Assistance for LGUs (HEAL) Lending Program for provincial, city, and municipal governments for emergency funding in the purchase of goods and procurement of services. The loans will have a fixed income rate of 5 percent per annum, payable to a maximum of five years, with one-year grace period on principal payment.
The President also said the DBM is expected to release the “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities,” a funding program to help their COVID-19 measures and relief efforts. This will be equivalent to one month of the internal revenue allotment totaling P30.8 billion.
According to the President, the National Economic and Development Authority and the University of the Philippines Public Administration Foundation are creating a national supply chain plan for essential medical supplies, food commodities and other critical materials during a state of public health emergency.
To facilitate the supply chain, the agriculture department has issued 41,689 food passes to delivery trucks and other vehicles transporting agri-fishery products and inputs. It also launched KADIWA ni Ani at Kita on Wheels to provide communities access to rice, fish, vegetables and fruits.
