EXPEDITE RELEASE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO POOR – BONG GO
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Wednesday urged the government to take steps in expediting the release of financial assistance to displaced workers and vulnerable sectors through the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and member of the Joint Oversight Committee that oversees the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, emphasized that there should be no politics involved in the distribution of aid and that the funds must be allocated fairly and distributed equitably, especially among the poor.
The priority now, he added, is to be able to provide immediate healthcare needs to solve the health problem and defeat the virus and, at the same time, provide cash and food assistance to those who have been most affected by the crisis.
“With the passage of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the bulk of government spending is now allocated to DoH (Department of Health) for immediate healthcare needs, DSWD for social assistance especially for affected vulnerable sectors and DoLE for assistance to displaced workers,” Go said.
The senator stressed that the law provides authority and flexibility to the government to utilize the funds as deemed necessary to respond and address the pandemic, and its economic impact.
“As chair[man] of the Senate Committee on Health and as a member of the Joint Oversight Committee, sisiguraduhin ko na nagagamit ng tama ang pondo at pupukpukin ko ang mga ahensya na aksyunan agad ang pangangailangan ng mga Pilipinong apektado ngayon (I will ensure that the funds are properly utilized and I will see to it that the concerned agencies will act on the needs of the affected Filipinos),” Go said.
He called on concerned agencies to fulfill their mandates and act swiftly in this time of crisis to make sure that the assistance from
government reaches the poorest of the poor.
Go said it is the responsibility of the government to secure and sustain the people’s needs during the health crisis. He added that government must take care of poor Filipinos who are becoming hungry and restless.
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management has requested the release of P2.8 billion that will be distributed to displaced workers through DoLE.
The funds for the Labor department are intended “to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 among affected private sector employees who have no or insufficient leave credits and are required to undergo community quarantine, among others.”
Over 85 percent of the requested fund of DBM that will be given to DoLE will be allotted for the Tu long Pan ghana pb u hay Para sa Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers and Government Internship Program (Tupad-GIP).
Tupad is a community-based package of assistance in the municipality or barangay level that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed, and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of ten days but not to exceed 30 days, depending on the nature of the work to be performed.
Meanwhile, GIP provides opportunities for young workers to serve the general public in government agencies or entities’ projects and programs at the national and local level.
Go said he would also closely monitor the provision of the cash and food aid to low-income Filipino families as part of the Social Amelioration Program stated in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
“As a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee, it is my duty to scrutinize how the Executive spends the funds we allowed to be used to combat Covid-19. Every single peso has to be accounted for,” he said.