By Isabella Magno

Due to a bulk portion of unutilized COVID-19 funds amounting to Php 577.053 million, the Department of the Interior and the Local Government (DILG) was called out by the Commission on Audit (COA), Monday, July 4. 

The DILG was given a total allotment of Php 4.038 billion for COVID-19 expenditures under the General Appropriations Act of 2021, and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. However, only Php 3.46 billion or 85.71% of the total was used. 

According to the COA breakdown, the remaining 14.29% or Php 577.053 million has not been utilized since December 31 of the previous year.  

Additionally, according to COA’s records, other general services, which supposedly included contact-tracers’ salaries, had the lowest budget consumption at Php 343.166 million.

Based on a COA record shown in a Philippine Star news article, the DILG failed to use Php 15 million for medical, dental, and laboratory expenses, Php 8.966 million for training expenses, Php 8.798 million for communication expenses, Php 9.424 million for other supplies and materials expenses, and Php 3.171 million for drugs and medicines expenses.

Meanwhile, incoming interior Secretary Benhur Abalos stated in a press briefing that he will have the issue “checked”.

Thumbnail from Rappler