There is no need for the Congress to hold a special session to approve a supplemental budget to defray the government’s expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic because the President’s Contingent Fund and the traditional Calamity Fund are immediately available funding sources without waiting for legislative authorization.

As provided for in the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Contingent Fund of P13 billion “shall cover the funding requirements of new or urgent projects and activities of national government agencies and GOCCs that need to be implemented or paid during the year”.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 and the treatment of infected patients fall within the purview of the Contingent Fund.

Moreover, an additional source is the P16 billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), formerly known as the Calamity Fund, for “aid, relief and rehabilitation services to communities/areas affected by human-induced and natural calamities”, which verily covers the calamitous COVID-19.

The utilization of both the Contingent Fund and NDRRMF needs the President’s prior approval.

When the Congress resumes on May 4, 2020 after the Lenten break, a supplemental budget can be enacted to (a) replenish the amounts disbursed from the Contingent Fund and the NDRRMF; and (b) appropriate fresh funds required to further respond to the COVID-19 pandemic like economic assistance to affected citizens, workers and small businesses when the adverse impact of the novel coronavirus can better be assessed.

Meanwhile, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) can extend interest-free 3-month salary loans to displaced or affected workers, payment of which can be amortized for 10 months starting 3 months after the release of the loan proceeds.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN