House leader flags lack of funds in Bayanihan 3 bill

May 25 ------ House Deputy Speaker and Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab on Monday said he has "reservations" in passage of the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3 bill, which needs P405.6 billion funds to help in recovery during pandemic. During the House session, the former Appropriations committee chairperson, pointed out that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance as well as Bureau of Treasury failed to give "concrete commitment" on the funding of the measure and issuance of certificate of funds availability.

The lawmaker said the certificate of funds availability is needed as per the 1987 Constitution. Without it, Ungab said there will be no source of revenue for the measure which aims to provide assistance for Filipinos bearing the brunt of the pandemic. "Unless there is a well-defined source of revenue, as provided under Section 25 (item 4) of the Constitution, the implementation of the Bayanihan 3 'ayuda' will not reach the hands of the Filipino people at the time they needed it the most," he said.

The lawmaker also clarified that he is not "against the stimulus fund." However, he said he is worried that the measure could be an "unfulfilled promise" without the certificate of fund availability. "Again, as I have made it clear from the start, I am not against any Stimulus Fund, in fact I will sponsor it, I will vote for it, and I will be willing to defend it on the floor, or even bring this matter to, and march for it on the streets, if allowed under our quarantine rules," Ungab said. "BUT, and this is a big BUT, I want to make sure that there are funds available for this purpose," he added.

Bayanihan 3 bill was approved at the House committee on appropriations last week despite failing to secure a certification of available funds from the Bureau of Treasury. The certification is mandated under the 1987 charter which indicates: "A special appropriations bill shall specify the purpose for which it is intended, and shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by the National Treasurer, or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposed therein." Also, the lower chamber began its plenary deliberations on the Bayanihan 3 bill this Monday, with 293 lawmakers signed as authors of its consolidated version.

Source: gmanetwork.com