Duterte says unused Bayanihan funds may be used for next COVID-19 surge

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked Congress not to move the unused P4.99 billion funds under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) as it may come in handy should there be another COVID-19 surge in the Philippines.

During the President’s Talk to the People aired on Tuesday, Duterte said the P4.99 billion or 54.96% of the released budget under the Bayanihan 2 which remained unutilized as of June 2021 was already returned to the Bureau of the Treasury.

This budget was said to supposedly aid micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to a Commission on Audit report.

“Sabi ko nga, ‘yung Bayanihan, nagtatanong bakit hindi pa naubos, sinauli na sa Treasury (they were asking why the Bayanihan 2 funds were not yet exhausted but it was already returned to the Treasury),” Duterte said.

He then underscored that such unused funds may be used in case there will be a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country, considering the new coronavirus variant detected in Israel.

“Whether we like it or not, kung totoo ‘yan (if that is true), it will reach again the shores of our country,” he said.

“Sana ‘wag na lang galawin ng Congress. If they want to legislate it, so be it. ‘Wag galawin ‘yan kasi that is in preparation for another surge of another variant. Nagmu-mutate itong monster na ito at hindi natin malaman kung ano talaga ang katapusan nito. I guess it will be there or here for the longest time,” Duterte added.

(I hope Congress doesn’t move [the funds]. If they want to legislate it, so be it. Don’t move the funds because that is in preparation for another surge of another variant. This monster is mutating and we don’t know until when it will linger. I guess it will be there or here for the longest time.)

Representatives Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite recently filed  House Resolution 2519, urging the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to conduct an inquiry into the said P4.99 billion unused Bayanihan 2 funds. —KG, GMA News