Department of Budget and Management releases P77.98 billion for Bayanihan II
MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said they have released a total of P77.98 billion to various government agencies for their own COVID-19 related response programs according to Republic Act No. 11494 or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.” It will be recalled President Rodrigo Duterte authorized DBM Secretary Wendell Avisado the authority to approve budget requests under Bayanihan II to facilitate the immediate release of funds.
With the authority, the DBM has released P76.22 billion from the total allocation of P140.0 billion under Republic Act 11494.
The Department of Interior and Local Government received P2,522,660.00 for the hiring and training of contact tracers. The Office of Civil Defense received P855,190,418 for the construction and maintenance of COVID-19 isolation facilities including billings of hotels, food and transportation.
The Bureau of the Treasury – Local Government Units received P461,474,250.00 as COVId-19 Local Government Support Fund to provinces, municipalities and cities for their respective response initiatives.
P1 billion was released to the Bureau of Treasury – Development Bank of the Philippines to cover the subsidy for the payment of interest on new and existing loans secured by LGUs from the DBP.
Another P 1 billion was released to the Bureau of Treasury-Land Treasury of the Philippines to cover the subsidy for the payment of interest on new and existing loans secured by LGUs from the LBP.
The Bureau of Treasury – Small Business Corporations received P8,080,098,000 to cover the National Government equity contribution to the SBCorp for the implementation of the COVId-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) Program and for its lending programs, as well as interest subsidy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs received P820 million for the augmentation of the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund for the repatriation-related expenses, shipment of remains and cremains of Overseas Filipinos who passed away due to COVID-19, medical assistance, and other forms of assistance.
The Professional Regulation Commission received P2.5 million for the implementation of Computer-Based Licensure Exam while the Department of Social Welfare and Development received P6 billion for the implementation of different COVID-19 interventions of the DSWD including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation received P9.5 billion for the implementation of different COVID-19 interventions under the transportation industry, to assist critically-impacted transport businesses, setting up temporary livelihood programs to displaced workers through service contracting of public utility vehicles and to support the development of sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
In a statement from the PCOO, it was learned the Department of Agriculture received P9.1 billion for the Agriculture Stimulus Package to support agri-fishery enterprises, farmers and fisherfolk registered under RSBSA and agricultural cooperatives via cash or loan interest rate subsidies and the Plant, Plant, Plant program. The DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management received P 132 million while the DA – Agricultural Credit Policy received P2.5 billion while the National Meat Inspection Service was granted P300 million.
The Department of Labor and Employment received P13.1 billion for various cash-for-work programs with the Department of Health received P20.5 billion for all health-related responses including the hiring of human resources for health, provision of special risk allowances and hazard duty pay to private and public health workers. Part of the amount would be utilized to augment the operations of DOH hospitals.
The Department of Trade and Industry received P100 million for its Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program through the Shared Service Facilities project. The Philippine Sports Commission for allowances for national athletes and coaches.
Aside from the funds, the DBM released P994,745,247 million for the Department of Public Works and Highways for the funding requirements for Fiscal Year 2020 Quick Response Fund while the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process received P28.3 million augmentation from management supervision of the Comprehensive Peace Process under Operations General Administration and Support the role and engagement of OPAPP Secretary as chief implementer vs COVID-19.
The Department of Health also received P730 million for funding requirements of the Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVIC-19 project under a foreign loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank. (Melo M. Acuña)
