Duterte may seek supplemental budget for COVID-19 response -Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte may ask Congress to pass a supplemental budget to augment funds for the government’s efforts against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Malacañang said Friday.

Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said the government needs authorization from Congress in order to tap more funds.

“May pondo po tayo, ang problema po kinakailangan siguro talagang mag-enact ng supplemental budget ang Kongreso kasi hindi namin magagastos iyong iba pang mga pondo na walang mandato ng ating mga mambabatas," he said in a radio interview.

He expressed confidence that the lawmakers will grant such a request.

“Kampante naman po kami dahil sa napatunayan ang kooperasyon ng ating Kongreso na kung anong kinakailangan natin para labanan ang COVID-19 ay ibibigay naman po ng Kongreso lalong lalo na babalik na sila sa session,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

Previously, the Senate and House of Representatives passed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which gave Duterte additional powers to effectively respond to the crisis, in a marathon special session on March 23.

Congress will resume session on May 4 with several areas in the country, including Metro Manila, still under enhanced community quarantine.

During a taped briefing aired earlier in the day, Duterte said the government is "running low" on funds amid the health crisis.

Government data showed that P352.7 billion out of the P397 billion available funds has already been spent for COVID-19 response, according to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier said the funding requirement to address the COVID-19 crisis has been raised by the government to P1.49 trillion.—AOL, GMA News