“We should be part of the solution and not the problem,” This is the message of Speaker Cayetano before the members of the Independent Baptist Mission for Asians (IBMA) in their Special Recognition Ceremony for IBMACON 2020 held at the Fundamental Independent Baptist Church of Tarlac in Tarlac City.
“Amid the disasters and threat of 2019 novel coronavirus, the Lord is telling us he is here, and we will prevail on these [challenges] but we have to help each other,” Cayetano said as he encouraged the religious leaders to continue to pray for the healing of the world.
“We will pray for all of you, leaders of Baptist church in Southeast Asia, we have to partner with each other and — with what is feared now, the new coronavirus, it doesn’t know any border. It doesn’t know any age, it doesn’t know any religion or color of the skin,” he added.
Cayetano joined the more than 1,500 members of the community, including missionaries, local pastors, and church leaders from all over the Philippines and South East Asia to deliver a message of hope and faith amid the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
“Ang tingin ko, magtulong-tulong tayo na i-prevent na mag-spread tong novel coronavirus at kung paano natin gagawin, kami ang pinakamalaking challenge ngayon sa Kongreso at sa sarili kong distrito ay ang pagtanggap ng medical assistance,” he said.
In his interview with the media, he also reiterated that they cannot close the doors to our constituents who are asking for medical assistance despite the current threat of nCov.
“We need to continue yung medical assistance, kasi nagka-stigma, kung nagka-stigma, ang problema yung iba, saka na tayo mag-medical assistance, hindi naman puwede, kelan ka magme-medical assistance? kapag magaling na o patay na? Ngayon kailangan,” he said in the sidelines of the events he attended in Tarlac City.
“It is an auspicious time for us to gather and talk about how we can extend our help to our brothers and sisters in need. In the Congress, we are working to make it not only a House of the People, but also a House belonging to God,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Speaker Cayetano expressed the readiness of the House of Representatives to discuss the supplemental budget but noted that there is a need for DBM to declare cash availability.
He said the House leaders were assured by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) during their meeting early this week that once the funds are depleted, that can be augmented.
“Yun din ang advice ko sa mga bayan na may calamity. Usually kasi yung governor or mayor doon ang iniisip, halimbawa ang kanilang calamity fund is P200M, January pa lang, nagastos na 50 [million] papunta nang 100 [million], gamitin nyo na kung kailangan ng tao, may dadating diyan afterwards. Totoo na limited ang calamity funds ng gobyerno at January pa lang, ine-expect natin at least ano ba? 12 to 15 na bagyo sa isang taon, pero puwede namang i-augment yun,” he explained.
In his interview, he urged the executive departments as well as the local government units to use their quick response funds and calamity funds to address urgent needs of the people.
“Ang importante, kung ano ang kailangan ng tao, maibigay na ngayon,” he stressed.
