Palace: Austerity order on agencies not a go-ahead for Bayanihan 3

Malacañang is not throwing its support behind the passage of the proposed P405.6- billion Bayanihan to Arise As One Act or Bayanihan 3 bill just yet, even if government agencies have been tasked to implement austerity measures, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday.

Roque made the comment a day after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Administrative Order 41, which instructs agencies to identify savings in their allocations from the P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget so that these may be used to fund additional COVID-19 response expenses.

“Hindi po siya sign na mag-Bayanihan 3 na. Pero ang sinisigurado natin dito sa austerity measure in identifying kung ano iyong pupuwedeng ma-realign is para makita nga kung magkano ang kakailanganin kung magkakaroon ng Bayanihan 3,” Roque said.

[This is not a sign that Bayanihan 3 is a go. With this austerity measure in place, we will be able to identify which budget items can be realigned and how much amount of money we would need  for Bayanihan 3.]

“Kung sapat naman ang ating mari-raise na pondo sa pamamagitan ng austerity, hindi magiging prayoridad ang supplemental budget,” he added.

[If we will be able to raise enough money because of the austerity measure, having a supplemental budget will not be a priority.]

AO 41 defines savings as:

• allocations which have  not  been  obligated  as  a  result  of  the  completion, final  discontinuance  or abandonment  of  programs,  activities  or  projects (PAP)  for  which  the  appropriation is authorized and
• those corresponding to PAP which have not been obligated as a result of the implementation of measures resulting in improved systems and efficiencies and thus enabled an agency to meet and deliver the required or planned targets, programs and services at a lesser cost.

House Ways and Means panel Chair Joey Salceda of Albay earlier said that the joint House Committees on Appropriations and of Economic Affairs are keen on approving the proposed P405.6-billion Bayanihan to Arise As One Act this week or next week. — BM, GMA News