DBM: No chance for supplemental budget due to lack of new revenues

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday the Duterte administration cannot seek a supplemental budget to boost funding requirements for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response and socioeconomic programs due to the absence of revenue to be tapped.

“Napagusapan sa Economic Development cluster at sa DBCC (Development Budget Coordination Committee) ‘yung posibilidad na maglaan tayo ng supplemental budget,” Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said during the Palace brifing.

“Sa ngayon po hindi natin pwede gawin ‘yan dahil ang requirement ng supplemental budget ay meron tayong new source of revenues or taxes and pangalawa kung merong excess sa collection... In both cases, wala po so wala pong pagbabasehan ang supplemental budget,” the Budget chief said.

The DBCC projected that revenue collection for this year will be P2.61 trillion or 13.6% of gross domestic product, lower than the P3.17 trillion target earlier approved.

Avisado also welcomed proposals to extend the validity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469) —which gave powers to the President to realign, reallocate, or program the 2020 budget to respond to the COVID-19 crisis— for three months more until September.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a bill extending the effectivity of the Bayanihan law until September, acknowledging “the existence of a continuing national emergency arising from the health situation.”

A similar measure seeking to extend it until September has been proposed by Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez at the lower house.

The Budget chief said the DBM will continue on operating within the P4.1 trillion budget.

So far, the DBM has released P353.86 billion from pooled savings, unprogrammed appropriations, and reprogramming of existing programs, activities, and projects to cover various agencies’ and departments’ funding requirements for COVID-19 response. -MDM, GMA News