DILG’s P251 billion budget vital for pandemic recovery, says solon

FILE PHOTO Healthcare workers in Ilocos Sur’s capital city of Vigan conduct contact tracing as COVID-19 continues to spread in the area. | PHOTO: Vigan City government

MANILA, Philippines — House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Elizaldy Co on Thursday said the Department of Interior and Local Government’s proposed P251.18 billion budget is needed for the country’s recovery from the socio-economic impact of the  COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our road to optimum economic recovery and attaining the fulfillment of our agenda for prosperity lies in the enhancement of the capacity of LGUs to efficiently perform devolved services and functions toward greater devolution,” Co, who is also the representative of Ako Bicol partylist, said in his opening speech during the committee hearing.

“Thru this budget, we must strengthen LGUs’ capacity to recover from the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. [We must also] institutionalize LGU preparedness and resilience to natural disasters and in managing risks and crises,” he also said.

However, it can be recalled that the Commission on Audit flagged DILG for its supposed failure to fully make use of its P4.038 billion COVID-19 budget for 2021, with P577.053 million in unused funds reverting to the general fund.

READ: COA flags DILG over P577-million unspent pandemic funds

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police got the highest proposed budget allocation at P191.496 billion.

Here are the DILG’s proposed budget for the commissions under it: Philippine Commission on Women, P109.207 million; National Youth Commission, P126.653 million; and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, P744.671 million.

The appropriations committee chaired by Co is also hearing the budgets of the Department of Justice (P52.72 billion), the Department of Energy (P2.222 billion), and the Energy Regulatory Commission (P1.038 billion).

EDV