Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to concerned government agencies to also provide support for other sectors of society whose livelihood had also been adversely affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, subject to the condition that there shall be no duplication of benefits from Social Amelioration Programs of other agencies.
“I have continuously appealed to all concerned agencies and LGUs that they should aim to perfect the distribution system of food and cash assistance as the government continues to address the COVID-19 situation,” Go said.
Several government agencies continue to provide assistance through various programs for the poorest of the poor, informal workers and vulnerable sectors through the Department of Social Welfare and Development; displaced formal workers and overseas Filipino workers through the Department of Labor and Employment; and micro, small and medium enterprise employees and the middle class through the Department of Finance and Social Security System.
“Ayusin na natin agad kapag may mga nakikitang problema. Siguraduhin natin na magamit ang pondo ng tama, walang masayang, at maramdaman ng mga tao kahit sa malalayong lugar ang tulong mula sa gobyerno,” the Senator added.
As the government continues to roll out its programs to help these identified sectors, Go also recommended to have a program for affected Filipino cultural workers and artists as several of them are also affected by the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in a bid to fight the spread of COVID-19.
As they incur income losses and struggle to make ends meet due to the ECQ, Go said that the government should come up with a system to identify qualified beneficiaries and provide financial assistance to these affected cultural workers.
“Dala ng enhanced community quarantine, marami po sa ating cultural workers ay hindi makapagtrabaho. Nararapat lamang po na mabigyan sila ng tulong ng pamahalaan, lalo na iyong mga pinaka-nangangailangan nito,” Go said.
“Lahat ng apektado ng COVID-19, nararapat lamang po na mabigyan ng tulong. Sama sama at nagkakaisa po nating lampasan ang pagsubok na ito sa ating bansa,” he added.
Go’s request came after several cultural workers called on the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to support Filipino artists and cultural workers as many of them remain affected by the ECQ.
Besides cash assistance, cultural workers also asked the government to create opportunities for remote work as people may remain fearful of attending social gatherings and public events for a certain time which could adversely affect income sources, particularly for performers.
The Senator cited Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7356, or the NCCA Charter, which mandates the agency to extend financial and economic assistance, such as subsidies, artist funds and social security to promote cultural development and protect artists and cultural workers.
To facilitate the program, Go suggested that the NCAA may utilize the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts established by RA No. 7356 to administer the said program for Filipino creatives.
Go also mentioned that the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” grants President Rodrigo Duterte temporary emergency authority to provide emergency subsidy to citizens affected by the ECQ.
“Gawan po natin ito ng paraan upang matulungan natin ang ating mga cultural workers. Mag-ambag ambag po tayo upang maibsan nila ang kasalukuyang pagsubok na hinaharap ng ating bansa,” said Go.
Meanwhile, in previous reports, the NCCA said that it will prioritize for its assistance programs cultural workers “who are not under an employer-employee relationship, without regular income or are working freelance, with no benefits, and those whose sources of income are gone due to the current crisis.”
