BY ELLSON QUISMORIO
The proposed “Bayanihan to Recover as One” stimulus package has been raised to P166.527 billion, Zamboanga Sibugay 1st district Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II said.
Palma is part of the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings taking place between select members on the House of Representatives and Senate on the pending COVID-19 response measure. Both chambers have previously passed their respective versions of the bill.
The Mindanao solon said that of the P166.527 billion that has been agreed upon by congressmen and senators, P140 billion is readily available while the remaining P26.527 billion will have to be sourced somewhere by the Department of Finance (DoF).
“The P20 billion-plus will act as standby appropriation. It will be up to the DoF to look for these funds. As lawmakers, our job only is to appropriate,” said Palma, who is a Deputy Majority Leader. (Ellson Quismorio)
