Manila Bulletin
Government's war chest vs. COVID-19 growing - Duterte
The Philippine government has amassed a war chest of P246.283 billion to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Duterte reported that P148.933 billion of the pooled savings has already been allocated and disbursed to various agencies.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development received P100 billion for the emergency subsidy program, the Department of Labor and Employment got P4 billion for worker protection programs, and the Department of Agriculture received P3 billion for rice farmer subsidies.
Local government units are receiving support through the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces (P6.197 billion) and a previous P30.8 billion grant for cities and municipalities.
An additional P100.221 billion has been certified as available by the Bureau of the Treasury, sourced from excess dividend collections from government-owned and controlled corporations.
Various government agencies, GOCCs, and instrumentalities have also reallocated funds from their respective budgets for COVID-19 measures.
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation and the Philippine Guarantee Corporation have identified properties that can be utilized for COVID-19 programs.
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Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated that President Rodrigo Duterte does not need a supplemental budget for the COVID-19 response, as the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act already grants him the authority to realign funds.
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