President Rodrigo Duterte appealed in the House of Congress not to move the unused funds of Bayanihan 2.
This is because it can still be used when there is another COVID-19 surge in the Philippines.
Earlier, Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite filed a resolution regarding the P4.99 billion that has not been used under Bayanihan Act 2.
According to the president, such unused funds have been returned to the Bureau of the Treasury and he hopes Congress will not move it as it is in preparation for another surge of the new variant of COVID-19.
Under the laws of Bayanihan, the said fund should not be used for any purpose unless it is in response to COVID-19.
He said the so-called new variant of the said virus, now BA.2 Omicron sub-variant, is unlikely to enter the country and it is still not known when it will end so we must be ready.