MANILA, Philippines — The government has so far released nearly P78 billion to various agencies for their COVID-19 pandemic response under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2). According to President Rodrigo Duterte’s second weekly report to Congress, P76.22 billion of the released budget came from the fund allocated by the law, while some P1.75 billion are charged from the 2020 budget allocations of the respective government agencies. Of the law’s total budget, P140 billion will be taken from regular appropriations while the remaining P25.5 billion will come from standby funds. The President recently gave Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado the authority to approve the release of Bayanihan 2 funds to ensure its speedy release. This is after some lawmakers called out the Budget Department for the slow release of the P165.5-billion Bayanihan 2 funds.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 03, 2020 13:52 UTC