P24-b stimulus package for farmers not yet released by DBM

MANILA, Philippines — With only two months left in the validity of Bayanihan 2, none of the P24 billion in the stimulus package earmarked for the recovery of the farming sector has been released to the Department of Agriculture (DA), officials told senators on Monday.

‘We have a process’

“We have not received anything although we have submitted requirements to the DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” Agriculture Undersecretary Rodolfo Vicerra said in reply to Sen. Ralph Recto’s question during a hearing by the finance subcommittee on the DA’s proposed 2021 budget.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who presided over the videoconference, noted that most of the items under Bayanihan 2 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act would expire upon adjournment of Congress on Dec. 19.

Pressed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan to explain the bottleneck in the release of funds, DBM Director Cristina Clasara said her department had already “acknowledged” the DA’s request for the P24 billion, but “some of those projects were not properly supported.”

“We have a process and it’s still subject for review by the higher-ups,” she told the body.

Villar asked: “How much is properly documented and how much is not?”

“Of the P24 billion, what we have clearly processed but still subject to review is P11.6 billion. Of this, P4.5 billion is in financial assistance for farmers,” Clasara said.

For the rest, “we’re still waiting for documentation,” she added.

‘It will be quick’

Asked about the timetable for the release of the P11.6 billion, Clasara said “it will be quick. Maybe this week, once we have endorsed it to the Office of the President (OP), it should be released quickly.”

Recto noted that to date, only about P6 billion had been released from Bayanihan 2.

The law earmarked a total of P165.5 billion for the country’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Some P140 billion is in regular appropriations, while P25.5 billion is a standby fund.

“It’s unfortunate,” Recto said. “We spent many hours and days crafting Bayanihan 2, which was certified as urgent to assist many sectors of society much affected by the pandemic only to be informed they are not ready to implement the same.”

“Perhaps it’s the job of the higher-ups of the Senate to go to Malacañang to lobby for release,” Villar said, addressing Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Pangilinan made a motion for the subcommittee to urge the DBM and the OP to “fast-track” the release of Bayanihan 2 funds to the agriculture department.