MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said some P300 billion in government funds that would be used to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have yet to be collected.

"'Yong pinagdadaldal ng isang congressman na u***, na may P300 billion ibinigay ng Kongreso, hangin po lahat 'yan. Wala pa 'yang pera na 'yan dito," he said in a pre-recorded public address aired early Thursday, in response to an unnamed lawmaker.

"Saan na ‘yung P300 billion? Wala pa po ‘yan, kokolektahin pa po ‘yan. Saan ‘yung P270 billion? Wala pa po ‘yan, kokolektahin pa po ‘yan," he reiterated.

He did not name the lawmaker who drew his ire.

In March, Congress granted Duterte special powers to tap some P275 billion in unused government funds to address the crisis.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act law, the government will provide cash aid from P5,000 to P8,000 to 18 million families belonging to low-income households.

In the same briefing that aired early Thursday morning, Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista said the agency has distributed some P100 billion in cash to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries during the ongoing crisis.

Duterte earlier welcomed the suggestion to include middle-income families in his administration's social amelioration program, but added that the government does not have enough funds for now.

"I will try to remedy whatever, kung may mapulot pa tayo sa daan," Duterte said in a televised speech Monday.

• Duterte backs call to include middle class in social amelioration program

"The economy is not moving, standstill so wala tayong kita. Ang ginagamit natin, ito na 'yung inireserba natin na pera. Ang ipinagyayabang ko na may pera tayo, P300 billion," he added.

Duterte said the government's priority is the "poorest of the poor," but he agreed that others are also affected.

"I am reiterating that our most vulnerable citizens, most especially the poorest of the poor, must receive the government's assistance immediately, kung hindi patay 'yan sa gutom. Alam ko na we cannot just focus or zero in itong poorest of the poor," he said.

He also ordered Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to look for more funds for the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The P100 billion for one month, or the P270 billion, for two months yan, nakaprogram na, as earlier estimated, is not enough. I'm calling on the secretary of finance to generate.... Magnakaw ka, maghiram ka, wala akong pakialam, i-produce mo 'yung pera kasi 'pag naubos na ito, hindi ko malaman," Duterte said.

"We are exploring options to adjust our budget. Iyong budget na ‘yung --- ‘yung earlier na budget wala pa ‘yung COVID. Sinabi ko bawasan na lang ‘yung iba or totally ilaglag mo na lang ‘yang project na ‘yan, ilagay mo dito kasi ang unahin natin ang tao, ang tiyan. Kasi ‘pag wala nang kinakain, a human being can be violent especially makita niya ‘yung mga anak niya wala ng kain, nag-iiyak siya. Maghingi ng gobyerno tapos wala na akong maibigay at maubos ‘yung bigas natin," he added.