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Ensure no wastage in spending P83 billion DSWD funds: Sen. Koko Pimentel asserts that there should be no wastage in spending the P83 billion remaining funds of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for calamity-stricken areas as the Senate discussed Senate Resolution No. 574 effectively urging the DSWD to spend the total amount in a little more than just one month. During the hybrid plenary session Monday, November 23, 2020, Pimentel said the spending authority of the funds expires in December this year. “I hope in the rush to spend the money because of the directive of the resolution, let’s also make sure that there is no wastage of funds that it becomes thrown away, like helicopter money. We have to also watch this. But of course, I support the resolution, that is money which has been allocated; because we raised taxes for that, we borrowed money for that, we are paying interest in borrowed money, we have to spend this,” Pimentel said. (Screen grab/ Senate PRIB)