The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it will “immediately” release to agencies billions of funds provided for by the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2). This commitment was made following the senators flagging of the executive branch’s failure to disburse said funds.
Reportedly, at least P34 billion in COVID-19 funds have yet to be distributed to the agriculture, labor and tourism sectors two months before the Bayanihan 2 expires.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said that Budget Secretary Wendell Avisado “committed that DBM and the implementing agencies concerned are acting on the matter and making sure that necessary resources indicated in the law are released immediately.
The Bayanihan 2 is the Philippines’ second COVID-19 aid package which allowed the government to allocate and spend P140 billion to help sectors affected by the pandemic.
