THERE will soon be fewer delays in the release of funds under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Law (Bayanihan 2).
This after President Duterte delegated the authority of releasing the funds to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado now has the power to approve and release the said funding.
“It will no longer need to pass through the Office of the Executive Secretary,” Roque said.
This was confirmed by Avisado to BusinessMirror in a Viber message. He said it allows them to release the needed funds to concerned agencies at a faster pace.
Some lawmakers expressed concern over the delays in the fund releases for Bayanihan 2 since the law is set to expire by December.
DBM, however, clarified that government agencies only need to properly obligate the Bayanihan 2 funds so they will be able to use it even beyond December.
As of October 19, 2020, DBM was able to release P5.43 billion of the over P160 billion Bayanihan 2 funds.
Roque said the pace significantly increased on Tuesday with DBM’s new authorization.
The agencies which got Bayanihan 2 funding include the Department of Trade and Industry (P100 million); National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (P5 billion); Department of Labor and Employment (P8 billion); Department of Social Welfare and Development (P6 billion); Department of Agriculture (P11.6 billion); and Department of Health (P20.5 billion).