The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified on Tuesday that only P5.97 billion of the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 funds expired last June 30.
The DBM reported that total unobligated funds under Bayanihan 2 as of June 30 amounted to a total of P13.88 billion.
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said DBM data showed underspending of Bayanihan 2 funds.
However, the DBM said only P5.97 billion out of the P13.88 billion in unobligated Bayanihan 2 funds was reverted to the General Fund following the expiration of Special Appropriations and FY 2019 Continuing Appropriations under Bayanihan 2.
“Specifically, the unreverted fund from the P13.88 billion unobligated balance can still be utilized by the agencies for the remaining months of the year by virtue of Republic Act No. 11520 which extends the validity of FY 2020 appropriations until December 31, 2021,” Budget Assistant Secretary and spokesman Rolando U. Toledo told BusinessMirror in a message.
Out of the P214.12 billion allotment releases under Bayanihan 2, P200.25 billion was obligated, according to DBM. Of the obligated amount, P178.86 billion was disbursed by agencies.
Meanwhile, the P5.97 billion reverted to the General Fund accounted for less than one percent of the total P679.27 billion released by the DBM to agencies for COVID-19 response.
After the expiration of the validity of appropriations under Bayanihan 2 last June 30, unobligated funds shall be reverted to the Bureau of the Treasury.
Of the total COVID-19 releases, the DBM reported that P600.67 Billion has been obligated and about P550.53 Billion has been disbursed based on Financial Accountability Reports submitted by the corresponding agencies and departments.
“This is equivalent to an 88.4 percent obligation rate and 91.7 percent disbursement rate, respectively,” it said.
Under Bayanihan 1, the DBM said P369.08 billion was obligated out of the P387.93 billion in allotment released. Of the obligated amount, P357.85 Billion has been disbursed.
“Other releases outside the Bayanihan laws have also reached P77.22 Billion wherein agencies have obligated P31.34 Billion and disbursed P13.82 Billion, respectively,” it said.
Despite appeals from various groups, President Duterte did not call Congress to a special session to extend the validity of appropriations under Bayanihan 2.