The House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations on Friday approved the proposed extension of the validity of Bayanihan to Recover as One Act until June 30, 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 will expire on December 19, 2020 upon the adjournment of session of Congress.
Last Thursday, AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin and Deputy Speaker Weslie Gatchalian of Valenzuela filed House Bill 8099 seeking to extend the validity of Republic Act (RA) 11494, otherwise known as Bayanihan to Recover as One. But their bill proposes to extend the validity law until March 27, 2021, “to ensure consistent and efficient delivery of assistance to the Filipino people and help aid economic recovery.” Aside from House Bill 8099, several bills proposing the extension of the validity of the law had been filed at the Lower House.
But Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza during the meeting expressed his reservations on the extension of the law, citing “inability” of the Department of Budget and Management to account for the total 2020 budget that has been released.
But DBM Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo said that of the total P165-billion appropriation, P102 billion under the Bayanihan 2 has already been released.
The Bayanihan 2 law empowers President Duterte to realign the budget of respective agencies to fund the country’s COVID-19 response.
According to the report presented by the Executive Department to Congress on the implementation of the first two Bayanihan packages, a substantial delay was revealed in the release of the funds intended to provide assistance to the people through the various programs and activities, and projects, particularly those enumerated in RA 11494, was revealed.
Garin, in filing House Bill 8099, maintained that these programs and projects were vital in the recovery path envisioned by Congress and the measures necessary to avert economic collapse.
