DILG orders governors to use P6.197B grant for COVID-19 response

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered 81 provincial governors to swiftly use the P6.197-billion Bayanihan Grant to Provinces (BGP) to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in their areas.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles clarified that the BGP should be used exclusively for healthcare-related efforts, including purchasing medical supplies, testing equipment, and hospital services.

The BGP can also be used for food, transportation, and accommodation expenses of health workers in provincial hospitals, as well as for constructing or repairing facilities to accommodate coronavirus cases.

The funds may be used for operating provincial checkpoints related to COVID-19, including providing supplies for personnel at these checkpoints.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) emphasized that the BGP should augment, not duplicate, existing funds for national agencies like the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Unused BGP funds after the State of Calamity is lifted will be reverted to the National Treasury, and the grant is not chargeable for salaries, travel, or vehicle purchases.

The DBM recently issued a circular outlining the guidelines for the disbursement of the one-time Bayanihan grant to provinces.