EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
EXTENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF SELECTED APPROPRIATIONS IN THE 
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2020 AND THE BAYANIHAN TO 
RECOVER AS ONE ACT UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERS 11465 AND 11494, 
RESPECTIVELY, AS WELL AS THE CORRESPONDING ALLOTMENTS 
INTENDED AS RESPONSE AND RECOVERY INTERVENTIONS FOR THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11494 otherwise known as Bayanihan to Recover as 
One Actor what is commonly referred to as Bayanihan II was passed on September 
2020 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The law directs the 
government to aggressively pursue measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 as 
well as provide fiscal stimulus as the economy starts to recover.
Ultimately, the Bayanihan II seeks to save lives and protect jobs as well as 
strengthen the resilience of our socioeconomic institutions in deaiing with the health 
and economic crisis.
However, the report of the Executive Department to Congress on the status of 
implementation of Bayanihan II as of November 3,2020, showed disappointing delays 
in the release of funds for the delivery of programs and projects meant to provide 
effective response and recovery interventions for COVID-19. This delay is unexpected 
because the Bayanihan II was certified as an urgent measure by the President.


As of October 29, 2020, only the amount of Php 76 billion out of the total 
Php 140 billion appropriations under R.A. No. 11494 was released by the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the various implementing 
agencies. This leaves a balance of Php 64 Billion or about 46 percent stiil to be 
reieased before the appropriation expires on December 19, 2020. According to the 
DBM, the reieases were based on the budget requests submitted by the agency. It 
appears that the agency's absorptive capacity cannot cope with the urgency of 
stopping the spread of the virus and instituting measures to avert the economic 
downturn as a result of the lockdowns.
While the economy has started to open up and the COVID-19 statistics show 
declining cases, the crisis is far from over. The average daily COVID-19 cases have 
been maintained at the 2,000 level but there should be no slackening of the 
observance of health protocols as some areas have seen spikes in cases even as 
new cases have registered in otherwise zero-case localities. Meanwhile, 
unemployment is highest in so many years. The GDP for 2020 is projected to 
register significant negative growth. The stock market is stiil in the red. Imports and 
exports are down.
Hence, the government needs to extend the vaiidity of appropriations and 
aliotments for Bayanihan II in order to continue the forward momentum of our 
battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and avert the coliapse of the economy.
This bill seeks to extend until the next adjournment of the Eighteenth 
Congress on March 27, 2021, the avaiiabiiity of appropriations and allotments 
pertaining to the enumerated programs, projects and activities under Section 10 of 
the Bayanihan II law, R.A. No. 11494, including those for health intervention, social 
amelioration, employment protection, support to impacted business and sectors, and 
investments for the new normai, among others. This covers funds intended for 
national government agencies, local government units, and government finandai 
institutions.


The extension of the validity of selected appropriations under the General 
Appropriations Act (GAA) 2020 pertains only to appropriations for programs, 
activities and projects that have been reprogrammed, reallocated and realigned to 
programs, activities and projects for COVID-19 mitigation.
The extension of validity shall only apply to appropriations and allotments 
intended for COVID-19 response under R.A. No. 11494 and does not include the 
extension of the effectivity of other interventions with no direct budgetary 
implications, unless its longer validity has been indicated in the Bayanihan II law.
The extensions being sought in this bill will certainly help accelerate the 
socioeconomic recovery of our nation.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
ECTO
EZL


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
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SENATE
S. No. 1909
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20 NOV 10 PI -56
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
EXTENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF SELECTED APPROPRIATIONS IN THE 
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2020 AND THE BAYANIHAN TO 
RECOVER AS ONE ACT UNDER REPUBLIC ACTS 11465 AND 11494, 
RESPECTIVELY, AS WELL AS THE CORRESPONDING ALLOTMENTS 
INTENDED AS RESPONSE AND RECOVERY INTERVENTIONS FOR THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Extension of the Availability of Appropriations. - The availability of
2 
appropriations provided under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020 and the
3 
Bayanihan to Recover as One Act pursuant to Republic Act Numbers (R.A. Nos.) 11465
4 
and 11494 respectively, intended for the response and recovery interventions for the
5 
COVID-19 pandemic, as enumerated in Section 10 of R.A. No. 11494, is extended until
6 
the next adjournment of the Eighteenth (18th) Congress on March 27, 2021: Provided,
7 
That the availability of appropriations in the GAA 2020 that were reprogrammed,
8 
reallocated or realigned from declared savings and utilized for programs and projects
9 
for COVID-19 interventions, including the automatic appropriations of new programs,
10 
projects and activity pursuant to Section 4 (rr) of R.A. No. 11494, are also hereby
11 
extended for the same period: Provided, further. That the use of such appropriations
12 
shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Section 4 of R.A. No. 11494.
13 
Sec. 2. Extension for Obligations of Allotment. - The allotments released that
14 
are covered by appropriations specified in Section 1 of this Act, shall be valid for
15 
obligations until March 27, 2021: Provided, That allotments issued which are covered


1 
by appropriations with fund sources other than the GAA as enumerated in Section 11
2 
of R.A. No. 11494, is hereby extended until March 27, 2021.
3 
Sec. 3. Reissuance of Allotment -The Department of Budget and Management
4 
(DBM) shall issue a new Advice of Allotment indicating the extended validity in
5 
accordance with Section 2 of this Act.
6 
Sec. 4. Applicability to Local Government Units (LGUs) and Government 
1 FInanciallnstItutions (GFIs). -The fund releases to the LGUs, and GFIs for programs,
8 
projects and activities enumerated in Section 10 of R.A. No. 11494 is extended until
9 
March 27, 2021: Provided, That said funds shall be available for obligations and
10 
disbursements until the intended purpose of the allotment has been completed.
11 
Sec. 5. Allotment Releases from the Standby Fund. - Release of Allotment
12 
covered by the Standby Fund as provided in Section 11 of R.A. No. 11494 shall be
13 
extended up to December 31, 2020, subject to the fulfillment of the conditionalities
14 
stipulated under the same section of R.A. No. 11494: Provided, That said allotments
15 
shall be available for obligations until March 27, 2021.
16 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Immediately after the effectivity
17 
of this Act, the Department of Budget and Management in consultation with
18 
Implementing agencies concerned shall formulate the guidelines, rules and regulations
19 
to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
20 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of R.A. Nos. 11465 and 11494 or any
21 
other law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, rule
22 
or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, amended
23 
or modified accordingly.
24 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication
25 
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.
Approved,