By Mela Lesmoras
Malacañang on Thursday expressed its support for the proposal to provide additional cash aid to poor Filipinos through an expanded Social Amelioration Program.
This is not only for those affected by the new travel restrictions imposed in Metro Manila and nearby provinces but for the whole country as well.
During his virtual press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque assured that the government is always ready to extend help to the people.
However, he stated that the emergency subsidies under Bayanihan 2 and the 2021 national budget should be distributed first.
“Ang kinakailangan po munang gawin ay unang-una, siguraduhin na ang mga pondo na nilaan para sa subsidies sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2 ay ma-distribute na sa kanilang mga beneficiaries. Bukod pa rito, mayroon tayong mga ₱287-billion worth of subsidies sa 2021 budget. So, iyon muna po ang ating ilabas para ibigay bilang tulong doon sa mga mamamayan natin ngayong mayroon naman tayong bagong pagsubok sa COVID-19 (What needs to be done first of all, is to make sure that the funds allotted for the subsidies under Bayanihan 2 are distributed to the beneficiaries. Aside from this, we have ₱287-billion worth of subsidies in the 2021 budget. So, that needs to be released first as aid to our people now that we have another trial due to COVID-19,” he clarified.
“Kung hindi sapat ‘yung nasa Bayanihan 2 at 2021 budget, puwede naman pong pag-usapan ang Bayanihan 3. Pero ubusin muna natin itong mga salapi na nakalaan sa Bayanihan 2 at 2021 budget (If the [money] from Bayanihan 2 and the 2021 budget will not be enough, we can discuss Bayanihan 3. But we need to dispose of the cash set in Bayanihan 2 and the 2021 budget first,” he added.
Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chairperson Christopher “Bong” Go, in his privilege speech last Wednesday, proposed the expanded social assistance scheme.
“I appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, and other concerned national government agencies to provide additional assistance to poor Filipinos through an expanded Social Amelioration Program,” Senator Go relayed.
Last February, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco also filed a third version of the Bayanihan Law, seeking to provide a ₱420-billion fund to help the country’s economy recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
