MANILA – Department of Finance (DOF) secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Saturday denied that the national government has been underspending during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Several senators and House members earlier called for an investigation into how the executive branch spent for COVID-19-related items, saying the government has yet to utilize about P6 billion for the pandemic.
“According to the DBM, we have already released 660 billion pesos. What they are referring to as underspending is six billion pesos or one percent of the total. The Department of Budget (and Management) and ourselves are going to each department to see where the P6 billion is,” Dominguez said in a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.
“It will be released, but in the meantime, we are asking each department to really spend the money,” he added.
The Philippines has “no problem with the money this year,” the Finance chief said, noting that budget officials have already included about P45 billion for the procurement of more COVID-19 vaccines next year.
“We do have the money for that. How do we use that money? Are we going to need booster shots? Are we going to need another set of vaccinations?” Dominguez pointed out.
“I don’t think we are only good for six months, I think we are good beyond 2022,” he stressed.
President Rodrigo Duterte criticized members of Congress for claiming that the executive branch has underspent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One thing very wrong with Congress is they are not listening when you are talking… Sa Bisaya, tira pasagad. Maski saan na lang tatama,” according to the President.
He specifically mentioned Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson as the lawmakers who have been hitting the administration on the use of public funds.
When asked for a comment about the President’s statement, Sotto told reporters: “Let’s verify when we tackle the budget because that’s what we gathered the last time last year.”(ABS-CBN News)
