Palace: Amount of unspent Bayanihan 2 funds to be confirmed by July 15

MANILA, Philippines — All funds under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 were released to line agencies, but it is not until July 15 when the amount unspent will be known, Malacañang said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque explained line agencies were given until July 15 to report its utilization of funds to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Unang una po, lahat po ng pondo ng Bayanihan 2, according to [DBM] Secretary Wendel Avisado, nailabas po sa mga line agencies,” Roque said.

(First of all, all funds of the Bayanihan 2 were released to line agencies, according to DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado.)

“As of now, I am not able to confirm kung meron nang hindi nagastos dahil the line agencies are given until July 15 to report back to DBM. So we will be able to confirm kung magkano po yung magrerevert sa national treasury but only on July 15,” he added.

(As of now, I am not able to confirm if there are any funds unspent because line agencies are given until July 15 to report back to the DBM. We will be able to confirm how much will be reverted back to the national treasury on July 15.)

The Bayanihan 2 law lapsed last Wednesday, June 30, with billions reportedly unspent and thus will be returned to the national treasury.

Vice President Leni Robredo expressed disappointment over the unspent funds, saying it could have been used to buy COVID-19 vaccines instead.

Sought to comment on Robredo’s remarks, Roque said: “I ask the Vice President, who is an economist, to please let’s wait for data before we make conclusions.”

je