DILG mulling request of 5th, 6th municipalities to use Bayanihan Fund for personal services
By Chito Chavez
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya assured on Saturday that he would bring up to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the call of fifth and sixth class municipalities to use their “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities’’ for personal services.
DILG undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In a news briefing, Malaya issued the assurance after being informed that a local government official of a sixth class municipality in the CARAGA Region had requested that they be allowed to use the Bayanihan Fund for the hazard pay of their regular employees who have also acted as frontliners of the municipality. He noted that the DBM had made the guidelines regarding the use of the lGUs on the Bayanihan Funds but vowed to relay the concern if exemptions can be made for fifth and sixth class municipalities. Earlier, the DILG stressed that the P30.824 billion “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities” approved by the President should be solely used for novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related programs. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said these projects and activities include the purchase of relief goods for low-income and vulnerable households; procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline service providers, medicines and vitamins, hospital equipment and supplies; disinfectants and related equipment and tents for temporary shelter of the homeless, among others. He emphasized that the President gave a thumbs up for the release of the funds to boost the capacities of local government units (LGUs) to respond to the needs of their constituents amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Año noted that the one-time grant to cities and municipalities is equivalent to one month of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which they can use for their COVID-19 response and relief efforts. Through the “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities,’’ Año said the LGUs will be provided with the capability to come to the aid of and address the needs of their constituents, especially the poorest among the poor who were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The DILG chief asked the cities and municipalities to ensure that the Bayanihan Grant is utilized properly to maximize the distribution of the appropriate benefits of their constituents. Año also reiterated his call to shun politics in this time of crisis and ensure that help is given regardless of political affiliations in the barangays. Explaining further, Año said that the Bayanihan Grant will be sourced from the discontinued projects of some government agencies under Republic Act 11465 or FY 2020 General Appropriations Act.
DILG undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In a news briefing, Malaya issued the assurance after being informed that a local government official of a sixth class municipality in the CARAGA Region had requested that they be allowed to use the Bayanihan Fund for the hazard pay of their regular employees who have also acted as frontliners of the municipality. He noted that the DBM had made the guidelines regarding the use of the lGUs on the Bayanihan Funds but vowed to relay the concern if exemptions can be made for fifth and sixth class municipalities. Earlier, the DILG stressed that the P30.824 billion “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities” approved by the President should be solely used for novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related programs. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said these projects and activities include the purchase of relief goods for low-income and vulnerable households; procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline service providers, medicines and vitamins, hospital equipment and supplies; disinfectants and related equipment and tents for temporary shelter of the homeless, among others. He emphasized that the President gave a thumbs up for the release of the funds to boost the capacities of local government units (LGUs) to respond to the needs of their constituents amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Año noted that the one-time grant to cities and municipalities is equivalent to one month of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which they can use for their COVID-19 response and relief efforts. Through the “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities,’’ Año said the LGUs will be provided with the capability to come to the aid of and address the needs of their constituents, especially the poorest among the poor who were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The DILG chief asked the cities and municipalities to ensure that the Bayanihan Grant is utilized properly to maximize the distribution of the appropriate benefits of their constituents. Año also reiterated his call to shun politics in this time of crisis and ensure that help is given regardless of political affiliations in the barangays. Explaining further, Año said that the Bayanihan Grant will be sourced from the discontinued projects of some government agencies under Republic Act 11465 or FY 2020 General Appropriations Act.