Angara urges gov’t agencies to fast-track release of unspent Bayanihan 2 funds

Senator Sonny Angara on Wednesday urged the implementing agencies to fast-track the release of unspent funds provided under the Bayanihan To Recover As One Law (Bayanihan 2).

Angara, the Senate finance committee chairman, made the remark exactly a week before the Bayanihan 2 Law expires.

He said there is very little time left for these agencies to spend the funds which were allocated to them since September 2020.

“May ilang bilyon pa ang pondong hindi pa nagagamit sa Bayanihan 2. Ang extension ng Bayanihan 2 funds ay hanggang June 30 lang kaya dapat paspasan na nila ang pag disburse ng mga pondo,” Angara said.

(There are a few billions under the Bayanihan 2 which were not yet utilized. The extension of Bayanihan 2 funds is until June 30 only that is why we they need to act swiftly in the disbursements of funds.)

“Congress acted with urgency in passing Bayanihan 2 in order to address the urgent needs of the different sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We owe it to our Kababayans who are in dire need of assistance to act just as swiftly, especially now with just a few days left in the Bayanihan 2 extension law,” the lawmaker added.

Angara cited the Department of Budget and Management’s data as of May 18 which showed that P60.9 billion of the P165.5 billion Bayanihan 2 funds are yet to be obligated by various government agencies.

He noted that there are six agencies which have below 50 percent obligation rate and two with below 10 percent.

These agencies said the delays on the utilization of funds were due to the slow bidding process, lack of data on the intended recipients, among others.

“We strongly urge the [implementing agencies] to work faster in completing their respective processes so that the intended beneficiaries of the programs we identified under Bayanihan 2 will get the help that they badly need at this time,” Angara said.

The Senate finance panel chair said these delays in the utilization of Bayanihan 2 funds will be raised once Congress deliberate on the proposed 2022 national budget after the State of the Nation Address.

Aside from Angara, Senator Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday said it is now the Executive department’s responsibility to obligate billions of unspent funds under the Bayanihan 2.

Meanwhile, detained Senator Leia de Lima called for a special session to extend the validity of the said law.

The Bayanihan 2 Law was approved last September 11, 2020.

Its original expiration was on December 19, 2020 but was extended until June 30, 2021 to provide the agencies more time to utilize the funds allotted to them. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA News