‘Only P6 B of P165-B Bayanihan fund released’

Less than P6 billion out of the P165 billion earmarked for emergency assistance to poor families and distressed sectors under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act ( Bayanihan 2) has been released, with the law set to expire in two months.

S ena t e Pre s ident Pro Tempore Ralph Recto yesterday raised the matter on the disturbingly slow disbursement of financial assistance at the hearing of the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture ( DA), where it was learned the agency has yet to receive some P24 billion promised to it under Bayanihan 2.

Republic Act 11494, passed by Congress last August and signed into law the following month, extended President Duterte’s emergency authority to impound re- allocated funds in the 2020 General Appropriations Act and divert them for programs to assist sectors hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s unfortunate , we spent many hours and days crafting Bayanihan 2, which was certified as urgent to assist many sectors of society much affected by the pandemic, only to be informed they are not ready to implement the same,” Recto said.

“Surely not only will it delay the assistance needed by families and businesses but will also delay economic recovery,” he lamented.

The Department of Budget and Management ( DBM) has reportedly released P2.5 billion to the Department of the Interior and Local Government to hire contact tracers; P855 million to the Office of Civil Defense of the Department of National Defense; P820 million for the Department of Foreign Affairs’ assistance to nationals program; and P994.8 million for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ quick response fund.

Apparently, the P5,000 to P8,000 cash subsidies to low- income households, displaced overseas Filipino workers, unemployed and affected public utility drivers have yet to be released.

Recto noted many agencies saw their budgets cut to contribute to the fight against the pandemic, but many of them also have yet to receive funding committed to them under Bayanihan 2.

During the hearing, it was learned that P24 billion sought by the DA for assistance to farmers and for programs to ease the impact of COVID-19 remains pending with the DBM.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan wanted to find out what was taking so long to release the funds needed to help farmers as the law is set to expire on Dec. 19.

DBM director Cristina Clasara told the committee chaired by Sen. Cynthia Villar that some P11.6 billion in the DA’s request is already being processed but awaiting final review by higher ups all the way to Malacañang.

Clasara said some of the DA’s requests were not supported with proper documents while other projects were just “concepts.”

Villar said if the process to release the emergency funds would be tedious, the DA should just let go of the projects and use the money for direct cash assistance.

DOT also waiting

In a separate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for 2021, it was also found out that the agency has yet to receive the P10 billion earmarked for it to assist affected workers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the law.

Of the P10 billion, P6 billion is for assistance to tourism- related MSMEs, P3 billion for displaced workers, P1 billion for infrastructure and P100 million as aid to tour guides.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo- Puyat said the DOT is exerting all efforts to revive the industry as the global economy begins to pick up.

Puyat said the DOT was able to undertake repatriation flights that assisted 43,754 stranded tourists.

She said the DOT is expecting domestic tourism to boost the industry as 77 percent of respondents in the agency’s recent poll showed Filipinos are willing to travel to local destinations even without a vaccine as long as health protocols are in place.

Sen. Nancy Binay said the congressional oversight committee on Bayanihan 2 must look into the slow release of funds.

Sen. Joel Villanueva expressed disappointment over the development, saying lawmakers tried their best granting all requests of agencies in writing the law only to find out funds were not being released.

“The painful truth is that there are no funds to be released. The authority ( to realign) cannot be backed up by funds,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said at the DOT budget hearing.

During the Senate hearing on the DA’s 2021 budget, Pangilinan and Villar called on the DBM to fast-track the release of Bayanihan 2 funds.

The DA has yet to receive any funds from the P165.5billion total in Bayanihan 2. In fact, just nearly P6 billion has been released to various agencies as of last week.

In defense, Clasara said the agency is now in the process of reviewing DA’s projects while waiting for other documents.

Of the P24 billion, Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said P16.5 billion have been submitted which covers 26 projects out of the 36 proposed.

Of this, P11.6 billion is already up for final approval of the DBM.

On the remaining documents needed by the DBM, Cayanan said the DA targets to finish all submissions by next week.

The DA has been banking on the P24- billion stimulus package as this will enable the agency to continue and intensify its productivity and income- enhancement projects, not just for rice and corn, but also for other commodity programs.

The budget will be allocated for agri-fishery productivity enhancement projects worth P8.7 billion, income enhancement projects at P8.8 billion and social protection and amelioration at P6.5 billion. –