The Palace on Tuesday said that a third Bayanihan law was unlikely to be considered for this year as the government still has to spend its 2021 budget.
In a media briefing, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said he saw no need for the passage of a supplemental budget in the seventh month of the year.
“Titingnan po natin kung kakailanganin pa natin ng supplemental budget kasi mayroon pa po tayong 2021 budget at buwan pa lang po ng Hulyo so mayroon pa pong natitira talaga sa budget na iyan,” he said.
The first Bayanihan law took effect in March 2020 during the early days of the pandemic in the Philippines. It had a P386.1 billion budget.
Bayanihan 2, which had a P165-billion allocation, took effect in September 2020.
“Kung magkukulang [ang 2021 budget], imbes na humingi po ng supplemental budget, pupuwedeng ipasok na po iyan sa 2022 budget na tatalakayin ng Kongreso,” Roque said.
If the need for Bayanihan 3 arises, Roque said the House could call a special session to discuss it.
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said the passage of Bayanihan 3 should be prioritized by the government.
“[The government should prioritize] passing Bayanihan 3, and ensuring the funds from this law are used so that no one starves or loses their home,” she said in her “Ulat ni VP Leni” address. John Ezekiel J. Hirro