THIS. So much going around asking what's the breakdown of the P275 billion. Thing is: P275B could be HIGHER. It's not a question of whether there's budget, but if there is cash to sustain spending. That's also why it's also important to track how much is being disbursed. https://twitter.com/czarmedinaguce/status/1246002503327473664

Why could P275B be even bigger? The Bayanihan Act allows the President to declare savings and reallocate these for coronavirus response. The law was also exhaustive on what should be PRIORITIZED in terms of additional funding. Which gets how much?

Section4(22) also allowed special purpose funds to be used for COVID response. Based on the first Malacañang report to Congress, we know that some P266 billion will be used under SPF. Of the P266B, some P55B was used to augment the disaster funds. https://www.rappler.com/nation/256485-duterte-yet-to-fully-exercise-special-budget-powers-bayanihan-law-report-march-30-2020

From last week, we know that no projects were discontinued to declare savings. Why? the IATF is still waiting which projects will require budget augmentation. That's why these projects (photo below) will be using their EXISTING allotments for coronavirus instead.

Where does this lead us then? We should be vigilant: Track how much is declared as savings, then the reallocation, then how much is disbursed and to which projects. A lot of details can be lost in between that's why we need to be more proactive.