Palace confirms P18.4 billion Bayanihan 2 funds unobligated

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday confirmed that more than P18 billion under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 remains unobligated but it is unsure whether President Duterte would call for a special session to extend the fund’s validity.

Bayanihan 2, an extension of the law that funded the government’s pandemic response, will expire on June 30. Congress has to pass a new law to extend the validity of the appropriations under the measure.

House ways and means committee chair Joey Salceda is calling for special sessions to extend the law, saying the contact tracing and health response capacities of provinces would be reduced drastically if the funds expire.

In an aide memoire addressed to Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Salceda said over P18.4 billion in unobligated funds are set to expire, including allocations for contact tracing and laboratory tests.

“I confirm that based on the data of DBM (Department of Budget and Management), the amount obligated for Bayanihan 2 is P123.2 billion or 87.01 percent. So there is a balance of P18.4 billion or 13 percent,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“So it’s true that P18.4 billion or 13 percent has yet to be obligated.

And we respect the wisdom of Congress because they are the ones crafting policies,” he added.

Asked if Duterte would call for a special session for the passage of a law extending Bayanihan 2, Roque replied: “I do not have information yet on that. I will ask later because our President will have a talk to the people later.”