Govt identifies P353.4B for COVID-19 response

The Philippine government has identified P353.4 billion in cash allocations to fund measures aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus disease.

These funds were sourced from discontinued government programs, special purpose funds, regular agency budgets, and trust receipts.

A significant portion, P246.1 billion, comes from projects, activities, and programs halted in the 2019 and 2020 national budgets.

The Special Purpose Funds contributed P97.836 billion, including allocations for disaster risk reduction and management, contingent funds, and unprogrammed allocations.

Various government departments have received substantial allocations for COVID-19 related programs, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development receiving the largest share at P199.9 billion.

As of May 21, 2020, no additional releases had been made from government savings, reprogrammed funds, or unprogrammed appropriations.

In a separate report, 19 local government units liquidated P397.065 million of the Bayanihan Grant, primarily for food assistance and hospital equipment procurement.

The DBM had previously released P6.197 billion for the Bayanihan Grant to provinces and P30.8 billion to cities and municipalities for their COVID response, with strict guidelines for its use in healthcare and pandemic-related measures.