MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday said it has released a total of P89.39 billion out of the P140 billion allocation from the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act of 2020 or Bayanihan 2.
During an interview, DBM Assistant Secretary Kim Robert De Leon noted that requested funds for various government agencies were processed and released to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Gusto po nating ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan na patuloy ang pagsuporta at pagtulong ng DBM sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagsigurado na on time at mabilis po nating maipapalabas ang ating mga pondo, lalo po yung nakasaad sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2 [We would like to inform the public that DBM continues to support and assist government agencies through ensuring on time and immediate release of funds stated under the Bayanihan 2 Act]” he said during the Network Briefing News with host Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar.
“Sa pagkakataon pong ito, as of Friday, out of P140 billion po na nakalaan sa Bayanihan 2 para sa iba’t ibang COVID-19 initiative at intervention, nailabas na po ng DBM ang P89.39 billion na allotment po sa iba’t ibang ahensya [As of Friday, out of P140 billion allocated under Bayanihan 2 for various COVID-19 initiatives and interventions, DBM has released a total of P89.39 billion to different agencies],” he added.
Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) were released by the DBM to departments and agencies to help affected Filipino families and their communities.
DBM has also released the budget for the recently approved Special Risk Allowance and active hazard duty pay for medical frontliners.
“Nailabas na rin ang pondo para sa DOH kung saan nakapaloob po ang pondong gagamitin para sa Special Risk Allowance at active hazard duty pay ng ating mga frontline health workers. Ito po ay sumusuporta doon sa kalalabas pa lamang po na Administrative Order No. 35 at No. 36 na nilagdaan po ng ating Pangulo [We have also released the fund to DOH that will be utilized for the Special Risk Allowance (SRA) and active hazard duty pay of our frontline medical workers. This supports the recently released Administrative Order No. 35 and No. 36 signed by the President],” he said.
Administrative Order (AO) No. 35 grants active hazard duty pay of up to P3,000 per month to medical, allied medical staff and other personnel in the public sector serving as frontliners during the pandemic.
Meanwhile AO No. 36 grants Special Risk Allowance (SRA) not exceeding P5,000 per month to public and private health workers directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients.
Apart from the Bayanihan 2 fund, Asec. De Leon noted that there are separate funds for other responses, which were not included under the said law.
“Nakaantabay din ang ating mga regular funds under the 2020 General Appropriation Act katulad po ng ating National Disaster Risk Reduction fund, Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits funds upang magbigay po ng karagdagang pondo para po sa mga ahensyang nangangailangan na walang allocation under Bayanihan 2 [Regular funds under the 2020 General Appropriation Act are also ready such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction fund and Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits funds to provided augmentation to agencies that will need allotment but were not included under the Bayanihan 2],” he said.
DBM has also released to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) an initial P1.5 billion augmentation for the calamity funds of local government units affected by Typhoons Quinta and Rolly.
“Ito pong P1.5 billion ay binase po namin sa naging cost of damage at sa affected population na itinala ng Office of Civil Defense at ng DSWD [We based the P1.5 billion on the cost of damage and affected population reported by the Office of Civil Defense and the DSWD],” he said.
Asec. De Leon said that the DBM is expected to present this week the financial assistance that will be provided for LGUs affected by Typhoon Ulysses.