The House of Representatives will assert its oversight power to scrutinize the Duterte administration’s spending for its Covid-19 pandemic response when session resumes, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Thursday.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Velasco said there is a need to convene its oversight power over Congress-approved funding, including allocations and spending for pandemic response.
“Definitely, that [probe] is needed. We also have that power of oversight. Definitely, all the budgets we pass, we need to find out whether [these were] spent well,” he said.
Congress will open its third and last regular session on Monday, July 26.
“I’m sure we are going to have a few hearings [when we resume session] so that the Executive will be able to explain and show to us where the government used the funds allotted as the Covid-19 pandemic response,” he added.
Earlier, lawmakers demanded a full accounting of the funds for Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2.
The government has failed to spend about P6.5 billion in funds under Bayanihan to Recover as One law or Bayanihan 2.
Data from the budget department showed there was an unobligated amount of P6.487 billion out of the total P141.59 billion released allotment for special appropriations under Bayanihan 2 as of June 25.
After the expiration of Bayanihan 2 last June 30, unobligated funds shall be reverted to the Bureau of the Treasury.
Despite appeals from various groups and lawmakers, President Duterte, however, did not call Congress to a special session to extend the validity of appropriations under Bayanihan 2.
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