FILE PHOTO: A resident of Baseco, Tondo, in Manila City on April 7, 2021, shows the financial assistance she received from the government, which extended the (ECQ) enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces from April 5-11, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it would have to look into the government’s excess revenues this 2021 should more financial aid be needed if the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Metro Manila will be extended beyond August 20.
“Kung halimbawa mangyari nga na ma-extend ang lockdown, natural mas marami nga ang maaapektuhan dito. Ang tingin namin, inubos muna namin yung 2020 na available pero pwede naman natin tignan kung sa 2021 meron na,” DBM officer-in-charge Usec. Tina Rose Marie Canda said Wednesday in an interview with Teleradyo.
(If the lockdown is extended, more people will be affected. We finished the available funds from the 2020 budget, but we can look at the 2021 funds if there’s any.)
“Kasi unang una, nakita namin na mukhang magkakaroon ng excess revenues ang BTr [Bureau of Treasury] from collections from government corporation or from other sources. That’s an available fund,” she added.
(First of all, we saw that it looks like BTr will have excess revenues from its collections from government corporations or from other sources. That’s an available fund.)
Metro Manila residents affected by the ECQ from August 6 to 20 will receive P1,000 per person or up to P4,000 per family.
The government has tapped agencies’ 2020 savings worth P13.1 billion to provide assistance to an estimated 10.7 million beneficiaries in the region.
“Ngayon, in the event na ma-extend ito, talagang hahanap at hahanap tayo ng pondo dito pero nakikita namin na sa 2021 na magmumula yung pondo na yun,” Canda said.
(Now, in the event that this will be extended, we will look for funds but it looks like we’ll get it from the 2021 budget.)
On the possible extension of ECQ over Metro Manila, Malacañang expressed hope this would be the “last ever lockdown” considering the ramped up conduct of vaccinations in the country.