Recto wants COVID-19 fund availability, Bayanihan 2 extended until March next year

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has filed a bill seeking to extend the availability of funds for COVID-19 response under the General Appropriations Act of 2020 and Bayanihan to Recover as One Act until the first quarter next year.

According to Senate Bill No. 1909, which he filed on November 10, this year's appropriations intended for the pandemic response and recovery interventions should be available and valid for obligations until the adjournment of the 18th Congress on March 27, 2021.

This covers funds intended for national government agencies, local government units, and government financial institutions.

The proposed law mandates the Department of Budget and Management to issue a new Advice of Allotment indicating the extended validity.

In the explanatory note of the bill, Recto pointed out that as of October 29, only P76 billion out of the P140 billion regular appropriations under the Bayanihan 2 has been released to various implementing agencies.

"This leaves a balance of P64 billion or about 46 percent still to be released before the appropriation expires on December 19, 2020," Recto said.

The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 is scheduled to expire on December 19 because Congress will adjourn session on the said date.

Bayanihan 2 also features a P25.5 billion standby fund for COVID-19 testing, and procurement of medication and vaccines, and additional capital infusion to government banks.

Recto proposes that the release of these allotments be extended up to December 31, 2020 and shall be available for obligations until March 27, 2021.

The proposed extensions would help accelerate the socioeconomic recovery of the country, according to the senator.

Several lawmakers in the upper chamber lamented the DBM's "slow" release of Bayanihan 2 funds to implementing government agencies.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado defended the disbursement process and stressed that the DBM is not delaying the release of funds.—AOL, GMA News