Funds under Bayanihan 2 can be spent beyond law’s effectivity -Palace

Funds meant for the implementation of COVID-19 measures under Bayanihan 2 can be spent beyond the law’s expiration in December, Malacañang said Tuesday.

This comes after Senators Ralph Recto and Franklin Drilon lamented the slow release of funds intended for the agriculture and tourism sectors. Recto even broached the idea of extending the validity of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which expires on December 19.

“Kinakailangan lang naman po magastos iyan. Pero I don’t think iyong paggastos po is subject to the expiration of the law kasi iyan po ay na-appropriate na and it’s just about to be released. So wala naman pong problema iyan,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last month, the Bayanihan 2 succeeded the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which also gave him special powers to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first Bayanihan law expired in June but the government still continued the delivery of cash aid to low-income households and other vulnerable groups.—AOL, GMA News