THE presidential palace on Monday said it might propose a supplemental budget for the government’s anti-COVID-19 efforts.

Presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque told a news briefing Malacañang had asked the Budget department to come up with data on which funds in the national budget could be realigned.

He said he expects Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado would come up with the figures this week.

Lawmakers earlier passed a measure giving President Rodrigo R. Duterte special powers to fight the coronavirus pandemic, including realigning government funds.

Central Bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the government would need more budget in the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019.

Mr. Duterte earlier said the government was “running low” in resources for programs to help communities affected by the virus.

He had ordered Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III to look for other fund sources as the P275 billion initially allotted by Congress for the COVID-19 response gets depleted. — Gillian M. Cortez

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