Ken Abante, a former chief of staff for the strategy, economics, and results group at the Department of Finance, asks the government to #SpendFasterToStopHunger.

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Ken Abante: The first question that we want to ask in the budget tracker is “Do we have enough cash?” The answer there is yes, but we need to make sure we don't run out. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: Of the ~P1 T announced cash sources:

P567 B is confirmed and in the Treasury, P111 B is confirmed but not yet in the Treasury, P342 B not sure.
P100 B has been certified by the Treasury for Social Amelioration. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

Abante: We should watch out for new loans, new dividend collections, status of local government finances. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: So much of the responsibility is now devolved into local governments, but we do not have an idea of what the cash status of our local governments is, and we need to make sure we support them. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

Abante: So far, we've been able to figure out that there is a regional breakdown of around a maximum of P275 B pesos for around 17.9 million households. This does not include yet the newly announced P51 B for the wage subsidy because it will be implemented in May.

Abante: We recommend the clear accounting of the P1.45 T for the announced four pillar #coronavirus economic strategy. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: The third question, which I think many people want to understand is, are we spending fast enough? And our quick answer to that is no. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: More than a month into the enhanced community quarantine, only 5.2 million of the 17.9 billion households (29%) for social amelioration have been served. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: We don't think cash is the constraint. We don't think the authorities in the budget are the constraints because the Bayanihan Act gives the president a lot of leeway to actually reallocate budgets into the COVID-19 response. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

Abante: Are we spending fast enough? This is where I think civic engagement can play a big role in working with our local government so we can #SpendFasterToStopHunger.

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Abante on the process of creating the report: I was driven by frustration and anger because many of my cousins and aunts are frontliners here in the province. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: I think it's important for everyone to help the government keep track of where the budget goes and make sure it goes to the right places. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: While this #coronavirus pandemic has definitely shown all the everything that's wrong with the current system, the weaknesses of our health system and delivery, it has also highlighted the generosity of the people who really care. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

Abante talks about disasters and the pandemic: The #coronavirus pandemic is unique. If it was already difficult before to disburse funds while people are still in the office, now people need to practice physical distancing. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

Abante: Do they have the protective equipment to actually disperse the funds? Do these local government officers and barangay workers actually get hazard pay? #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: Another set of issues are in the regulatory controls. There are things that the Commission on Audit (COA) requires for a minimum documentation. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: There's some fear that if they do disburse the funds quickly and they don't get the right documents, then COA will come after them and get their jobs. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: While we recommend that they should pay now, verify later and not require ID because it excludes so many people from the process, we think this also sends some degree hesitation coming from social welfare and local government employees. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

Abante: The third issue is we need to also consider the ability to disburse actual physical cash. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Rappler’s @mariaressa asks: Aren't there existing quick disbursements during emergencies during disasters? Aren't there existing workflows that could be tapped to deal with this?

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Abante: We’re not sure. I don't know to what extent these current NDRRMC systems are being used. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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. @mariaressa asks: What role does politics play in something like this [pandemic]?

Abante: The big political leaders really make the important strategic decisions. They do the frameworks… They choose which advisers to listen to. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

@KenAbante: Politics determines the speed of the delivery of social services because part of what politicians can do is to appoint the right people, hire, fire, and promote. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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@KenAbante: It's particularly important for them to listen not only to the people they agree with but the people they disagree with. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: The worst case is we continue on this path—that we continue to disburse very slowly, we do not get the appropriate staff work necessary... and people go hungry. I think that that's terrible because people are already hungry.

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@KenAbante: The best case is for example, the Department of Social Welfare and Development continues on the path of improving their operations center. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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@KenAbante on accountability: I do think that journalism serves a critical role in making sure even the unpopular things are said and that's important. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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@KenAbante: State capacity is something that defines the delivery of public services, whether there are enough schools, airports, roads. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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Abante: My reflections on government capacity in the Philippines is that it's not only the individual competence of a public servant that defines state capacity. It is the network of relationships that career officials have built for the longest time.

@KenAbante: There are many other roles now that need to be filled, both in government and civil society and even in journalism. #SpendFasterToStopHunger

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