Pangilinan: Use of P18B for OFW accommodation needs review

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Sunday said there should be more review on the use of P18 billion unspent funds from Bayanihan 2 law to pay for hotel accommodation of returning Filipinos.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress for the unutilized funds from Bayanihan 2 for expenses of OFWs during quarantine that is needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as the more contagious variants.

But the minority senator said this could affect funds that were already allocated for other government programs.

"I have to review yung ganoong klaseng proposal. Saan ba pagkukunan 'yung P18 billion dahil kung mayroong intention na gastos sa iba? kumbaga, kukunin mo mawawalan ng suporta ang programa dahil ibibigay mo pa sa isang programa," Pangilinan said on Super Radyo DZBB.

If this proposal would lead to malversation of funds, Pangilinan said, it could happen because the money was already allotted under Bayanihan 2, which is set to expire by June 30, 2021.

"'Yun pa, because it is already obligated, it is already allotted.  Pero 'di ka pwede magdeklara ng savings sa gitna ng taon usually by the end of the year," Pangilinan pointed out. 

(It is already obligated, it is already allotted and you can't declare savings in the middle of the year, usually this happens at the year's end.)

Duterte's call for government funding of the 10-day quarantine period of returning Filipinos was prompted by overseas Filipino workers' pleas as the shoulder the isolation expenses upon arriving in the country.

Despite this call, Pangilinan raised concern over the unreleased funds under Bayanihan 2, asking government agencies to shape up and obligate the still unspent money, which is aimed at providing assistance to those bearing the brunt of COVID-19 pandemic. —LBG, GMA News