Filipinos who were hit by the pandemic suffered double whammy as help did not come to them on time due to the more than P63 billion underspending under the Bayanihan 2, Senator Panfilo Lacson said.
“Filipinos whose lives and livelihoods were affected by the pandemic have been hit with a double whammy as much-needed aid did not reach them,” he said.
And since the Bayanihan 2 Law already expired on June 30, the funds can no longer be used unless a new law is passed.
Lacson said the P63 billion covers P46.397 billion undisbursed funds and P17.272 billion in unobligated funds.
“We should keep in mind that underspending is determined not by fund releases but by obligations and disbursements. And based on my research, is there underspending? Yes!” the senator said.
“If the money was not fully disbursed, the affected Filipinos suffer because they are denied the aid meant for them. It is a disservice to many, to say the least,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health said it would look into bottlenecks blocking the release of benefits due health workers under Bayanihan 2 after a nurses’ group said many still have not received their special risk allowance (SRA).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department has already released funds for health workers’ benefits to regional offices and hospitals.
“We just need to clarify and also get that information on what’s causing the bottleneck on the release of the benefits needed by our healthcare workers,” she said.
On Sunday, the group Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said it was “infuriating” that many health workers still have not received their benefits under the expired Bayanihan 2.