MANILA, Philippines — Total funds released under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act reached P107.96 billion until the law’s expiration on Dec. 19, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
DBM data showed that P103.24 billion of the amount was charged against the P140 billion stimulus package under the law, leaving P36.76 billion in funds yet to be deployed to key implementing agencies.
The remaining P4.73 billion came from regular funds under the 2020 General Appropriations Act.
Earlier, DBM Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo said the agency had temporarily stopped the release of funds pending the President’s signing of a law, which will extend the validity of the stimulus funds under Bayanihan 2. The Bayanihan 2 Law set aside a P140 billion stimulus package to help the country rebound from the debilitating effects of the pandemic, plus another P25.5 billion in standby funds.
Including releases during and after the implementation of the first stimulus under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the government already released a total of P500.7 billion for its COVID-19 response since March.
Broken down, the DBM said P23.29 billion of the total Bayanihan 2 releases went to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the highest among all agencies so far. The amount was used for the implementation of projects under the Agriculture Stimulus Package.
The DA was followed by the Department of Health (DOH), which cornered P22.47 billion of the total allocation. The allocation was used for programs that aim to strengthen the country’s health system, and for the payment of salaries and allowances to medical personnel.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) acquired P16.4 billion to support Filipino workers who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and mobility restrictions.
About P12.03 billion in allotments was issued to the Department of Finance (DOF), which was mostly transmitted to government financial institutions, including Small Business Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines for their lending activities.
Some funds were also given as support to local government units.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) received a total of P10.31 billion, while the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) got P6 billion.
Other agencies which received funding are the Departments of Education (P4.3 billion), Interior and Local Government (P3.56 billion), Commission on Higher Education (P3.3 billion), Public Works and Highways (P2.84 billion), National Defense (P1.32 billion), Trade and Industry (P1.1 billion), Foreign Affairs (P820 million) as well as the Philippine Sports Commission (P180 million), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (P28.37 million) and University of the Philippines (P15 million).