Gov't has enough budget for COVID-19 relief beyond P275B —senators

Budget is not an issue for now as the country continues its efforts to defeat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its other adverse impact on Filipinos, according to some senators on Tuesday.

"Hindi pa nga ginagalaw 'yung 2020 GAA (General Appropriations Act) except the usual first quarter expenditures. Life is most important, money can be restored later," Sotto said in a message to reporters.

"Government can solve the needs for funds," he added.

Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act gives authority to President Rodrigo Duterte to realign available government budget to augment the ongoing COVID-19 response.

Senator Panfilo Lacson likewise said there are other sources of funds other than the P275 billion that Congress and their counterparts in the executive branch initially identified for emergency aid to low-income households.

"I remember during our caucus with the Cabinet secretaries before we went to plenary to pass [RA] 11469, Secretary [Carlos Dominguez III of ] DOF informed us of a $100m grant from the ADB and a World Bank standby loan for COVID-19 that may be tapped aside from the latest available P275 billion from untapped and unused GOCC's funds," Lacson said.

"That, plus the unused appropriations of several agencies which Secretary [Wendel Avisado of] DBM roughly estimated at P600 billion. That's from the 2019 GAA," he added.

Lacson underscored that more than the availability of funds, the bigger challenge is in the rollout or distribution of the assistance.

The national identification system could solve the issue on the discrepancies in the database, according to Sotto.

On Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte said that P275 billion is not enough for COVID-19 relief efforts.

"The 100 billion pesos for one month or the 270 billion pesos for two months ‘yan naka-program na as earlier estimated is not enough," Duterte said.

"I’m calling on the Secretary of Finance to generate. Magnakaw ka, maghiram ka, wala akong pakialam, i-produce mo ‘yung pera kasi ‘pag naubos na ito… Hindi ko malaman," he added.

'Aid for the middle class too'

Duterte also agreed with Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla’s appeal for middle income families to receive cash assistance too.

“Ako, I agree,” the President responded. "Alam ko. Kung maaari lang, isali ko sila.”

Senator Bong Revilla said the beneficiary list should be expanded beyond the estimated 18 million low-income households in the informal sector.

"Matindi na ang epekto ng ECQ. Hindi na lang poorest of the poor ang kumakalam ang sikmura. Dapat lahat ng wala nang makain maabutan ng tulong," he said in a statement.

Revilla added that a one-time assistance for all could be better and that the second tranche of the cash aid could be worked out later.

"Maganda sana na imbes na dalawang wave ng pag-release ng ayuda ang pinagpaplanuhan ngayon, gawin munang isang initial wave na makakarating sa kahuli-hulihang nangangailangan," he said. "After nitong initial release, tsaka natin trabahuhin 'yung next wave."

Sotto, for his, part said he believes Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez can find additional funds to provide relief to the middle class. —KG, GMA News