Budget executive says there are enough safeguards for released funds
MANILA – Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado said under the Bayanihan Heal as One Act, all fund releases are included in a list which his office furnished the media earlier today,
Speaking at the Malacanang briefing hosted by Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque at midday today, Secretary Avisado said government agencies in receipt of fund releases from the Department of Budget and Management keep their own lists.
“Whenever we release funds, there are specific guidelines on its utilization,” he said. He explained these agencies keep the positive and negative lists on how the money will be used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the suggestion that DBM and other government agencies’ need to upload the funds released and received along with the Department’s respective regional offices.
“I believe there are agencies that upload the fund releases, including the manner how sub-allotments have been utilized,” he further said.
Regarding funds used to respond to COVID-19-related programs, Secretary Avisado said there are regional task forces where they update the general public on their disbursements, especially on the Social Amelioration program.
Earlier during the briefing, Secretary Avisado said the DBM has released P353,860,215,840.25 as of today. He explained P246,526,427,356.00 came from the government’s pooled savings, P96,717,896,630.00 from unprogrammed appropriations and P10,615,891,854.25 from the reprogramming of beneficiaries and purpose of existing P/A/Ps.
He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development received P100,000,000,00 for the Social Amelioration Program to last for a month. The same department received P96,044,703,507 for SAP’s balance. Another P30 billion was released for the Bayanihan Grant for Cities and Municipalities while P8.5 billion was released to the Department of Agriculture for its ALPAS COVID-19 program. The provinces received P6.1 billion for the Bayanihan Grant, among others.
The Department of Budget and Management released P51 billion to the Department of Finance for the Small Business Wage Subsidy Measure while the Department of Health received P45.7 billion in supplemental funding. The two agencies received the funds sourced from the unprogrammed appropriations with the certification from the Bureau of the Treasury, according to Secretary Avisado. (Melo M. Acuña)
Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado. (DBM File Photo)
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