THE medical leave of Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado is very lamentable amid the financial assistance needed by the Filipinos affected by another strict quarantine policy.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarateas said this as he enumerated possible sources of “ayuda” that must be given to Filipinos in places under Enhanced Community Quarantine like Metro Manila.

Last week, after saying that the national government will look for sources of financial assistance, Avisado upon the advice of his doctor went on medical leave.

Weeks ago, he was tested positive for COVID-19 and stayed in the hospital for a while .

But Zarate said the leave of Avisado should not be used as an excuse not to give affected families the needed aid.

“The timing is truly lamentable considering that we are on the verge of a surge of the Delta variant and about to enter another hard lockdown with the ECQ, and people need ayuda from the government.

“Just the other day, Sec. Avisado said he was still trying to find funds for the much-needed ayuda and awaited only a clear directive from President (Rodrigo) . Was such a directive already given? Was he able to find the budget to help our people before the ECQ is implemented?”the solon said.

According to Zarate, the ayuda funds can be sourced from the administration’s savings based on National Budget Circular 586 as well as from the P4.5 billion presidential confidential and intelligence funds.

Even the funds of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) should be reallocated, he stressed.

The solon noted that under unprogrammed funds there is another presidential pork — Support for Infrastructure and Social Programs at 27B (2021), 10B (2020), 8B (2019), respectively.

The Special Purpose Fund for 2021 is a whopping P617 billion while under it, the Unprogrammed Appropriations for 2021 is P178 billion, Contingency funds at P13 billion and NDRRMF at P 20 billion.

In fact, when asked if there are funds to be tapped, Avisado was reported saying, “Once we receive the directive from OP, we will source it out from available funds, which we have.”

“As can be seen, there can be a lot of fund sources for Bayanihan 3 as aid for our people. We hope that Sec. Avisado pointed this out to Pres. Duterte’s economic team so that they can immediately be tapped. The real question is, is Pres. Duterte and his very adamant economic managers are willing to fund much ayuda and forgo their ambitious programs and projects, like the debt-driven ‘Build, Build,Build” and militarist spending spree?” Zarate also said.

PASSAGE OF 2022 NATIONAL BUDGET ASSURED

Meanwhile, deliberations on the proposed 2022 national will not be delayed and it will be approved on time.

House Committee on Appropriations chairman ACT-CIS Representative Eric Go Yap said following reports Avisado’s medical leave due to health condition.

Yap said since there are other officials from the DBM that will be taking charge, there will be no reason to delay the deliberation of the budget.

The last budget for the Duterte administration was pegged to P5.025 trillion.

“OIC naman si Usec Tina Canda. Matagal na siya sa DBM and I’m sure she is capable. Sec Avisda naman is always one call away, kaya I think the budget deliberations are right on track,” Yap said.

The P5.025 trillion budget is the highest in this administration since the government needs to respond effectively to the COVID pandemic.

Last week, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco gave a marching order to the committee to properly and strictly scrutinize the budget proposal to ensure fundings will be properly appropriated.

“Kailangan natin itong busisiin, himayin, at buuin nang maayos upang makasagot sa lumalaking pangangailangan ng ating bayan ngayong panahon ng patuloy na pandemya,” Velasco said.

“This pandemic continues to be the greatest challenge to governments all over the world, and despite all the sacrifices and risks to your own personal health and safety, we have kept, and will keep, the legislative mill running,” he added.

The DBM has reminded the national agencies that for 2022, LGUs will be getting higher internal revenue allotment (IRA) as some functions and disbursements will be transferred to them.