House panel OKs extension of validity of appropriations under Bayanihan 2

MANILA, Philippines — A committee in the House of Representatives approved Friday a bill seeking to extend the validity of appropriations under the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act until June 30 next year.

During its online meeting, the House committee on appropriations approved the substitute bill to five measures seeking the extension of the second Bayanihan law in a move to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to the country.

Bayanihan 2 is set to expire on December 19 this year.

The substitute bill, however, wouldn’t extend the power of President Rodrigo Duterte to realign projects in the 2020 budget. This power will still expire on December 19.

Meanwhile, the fund releases to local government units and government financial institutions—and its utilization for programs and activities—are likewise extended until June 30, 2021.

Now that the bill seeking to extend the validity of appropriations under Bayanihan 2 has been approved in the committee level, it will be brought to the plenary floor for further debates and approval on second and third reading.

The bill is expected to be tackled in the plenary floor on December 14, Monday.

In the same meeting, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo said they are in support of the measure, adding that they already asked President Rodrigo Duterte to certify the bill as urgent.

The lower chamber earlier approved on second reading a bill seeking to extend the availability of the 2020 national budget until December 31, 2021.

The 2020 budget is set to expire on December 31 this year.

READ: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1370016/bill-extending-availability-of-2020-budget-to-dec-2021-okayed-by-house-on-2nd-reading