Imee Marcos joins calls for extending Bayanihan 2 validity

Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday pushed for extending the validity of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 Law as it will expire by June 30, 2021 with billions in funds still unspent.

Despite the law's having been extended to June 30, there were still P60.9 billion of the P165.5 billion Bayanihan 2 funds yet to be obligated by various government agencies, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Marcos cited the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Social Welfare and Development as still having unreleased Bayanihan 2 funds.

"Ito nga kailangan i-extend ng Bayanihan 2. I think hindi malaking ang problema para sa mga kongresista at senador, ang problema nga 'yung time. si President Rodrigo Duterte very hesitant na tumawag ng special session," said Marcos over Super Radyo DZBB.

(The Bayanihan 2 needs to be extended. It's not a problem for representatives and senators. But the problem is time. The President is hesitant to call for a special session.)

"Definitely, by July 26, matapos ang SONA (State of the Nation). So bago pa SONA kasi 'di ba mayroon kaming morning session, dapat i-prioritize na yan sa umaga," she added.

(We will have a morning session on the day of the SONA, by then we can prioritize that in the morning.)

Bayanihan 3 funding

Meanwhile, the lawmaker, chair of Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, questioned the funding for the Bayanihan 3 or Bayanihan to Arise as One Act, a P401 billion stimulus package that was approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker suggested funding the Bayanihan 3 with unobligated funds.

"So why don't we look sa mga dati. Kung tutuusin in-extend ang budget ng 2019, may natira ang 2020, tapos sa Bayanihan 1, 2, sa 2021 budget. May contingency may calamity funds pa," Marcos said.

(Maybe there are funds left from Bayanihan 1, 2, the 2021 budget. Calamity and contingency funds.)

"Siguro for proper accounting, lista ang 'di pa nadi-disburse at tignan yung paano gagamitin ito for the purposes of Bayanihan 3," she further said.

(We must make a list of unspent funds and how we can use these for Bayanihan 3.)

The country's economic team previously said they were looking for more sources to fund the Bayanihan 3 while President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress leaders had a meeting last week to discuss Bayanihan 2 and 3.  — DVM, GMA News