We were cheered recently with the good news that the Bayanihan 3 stimulus bill was approved by the Committee on Appropriations which, according to Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Kiko Benitez who chaired the Technical Working Group, is “a crucial step for the passage of the comprehensive lifeline measure.”
Who wouldn’t be pleased with it when the bill seeks to provide at least P2,000 for all Filipinos. I would be happy to get back a little something from this government, after all, I am a taxpayer. Since the pandemic started, all I got was one whole chicken thanks to San Miguel Corporation, 5 kilos of rice and several canned goods. And of course, the vaccine, thank you.
P2,000 can go a long way and I will not be an ingrate to say it is not enough as others complained last year when they got a much higher amount under the Bayanihan 1 program. It is kind of amusing to hear how it will be given out though as there is a proposal to give it in two tranches of three months apart.
I am not sure how many lawmakers believe P1,000 is enough to last one person for three months. Perhaps they should try to live it because while it really is better than nothing, in reality, it is not enough. But again, I will not complain as it will be a welcoming thought to get back even a little of what I have given to our government.
If we recall, Congress approved the P1.3 Trillion package last June which included subsidies for the poorest of the poor, those who lost their jobs, employees’ subsidies, and many more which were implemented during the hard lockdown.
That became fodder for social media posts of who got what and why and how the fund was actually dispensed. Bayanihan 2 was more on tax breaks, loans extension, assistance, subsidies, and the health care system.
Bayanihan 3 features include assistance to families, wage subsidies for MSMEs, unemployment assistance through DOLE, nutrition for children in barangays, support to the hog industry, farmers and fisherfolks, medical assistance to indigents, laptop and internet allowance for teachers and moratorium on demolitions.
But whilst the idea looks good on paper, when the bill was brought before the plenary, it lacked one vital document for its passage – a certificate from the Bureau of Treasure that there are available funds to realize the bill.
After all, we are talking of over P400 billion in aid alone for all Filipinos. And perhaps the national government knows it does not have the funding for it because even President Rodrigo Duterte did not certify it as urgent.
Proponents of the bill said there is a need to pass it because of the high unemployment and hunger caused by the pandemic. And I agree, even short time lockdowns on LGUs and travel moratorium such as the most recent one between Negros and Panay can cause hardship among those who rely on port operations and other daily economic activities for their survival.
During Monday’s deliberation, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo pointed out the failure in the past stimulus distribution where outdated lists prevented aid to reach those who are truly in need. And I agree because there is a need to cleanse that list that has been used for political purposes and another source of corruption.
Speaking of corruption, I find that launching of “Project Kasangga: Tokhang Kontra Korapsyon” during Duterte’s visit to Dumaguete the other day and which is supported by the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines as very hypocritical.
That election promise of the president to end corruption, drugs and what have you never materialized and evidence of that are the never-ending circus of transferring one “friendly” official to another agency even when already so tainted with corruption.
The responses from so-called leaders to support that call just makes you want to puke.
Back in Congress, despite the question of where the funding will come from, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin also suggested the inclusion of P10,000 to all Filipinos who test positive for COVID-19. I cannot see the sense in that. Do we now reward those who tested positive?
I can understand the government health insurance payout to those who were severely affected because medical bills can reach P1 million or more. I can also understand that those who have been infected had to be affected if they were plucked out and were placed in isolation resulting in loss of income.
But that subsidy had to be qualified and not inserted like a reward for getting positive of the virus.
Right now, proponents of the bill said that the Department of Finance said there may be P63 billion which can be sourced from GOCCs and the government can take out a P282 billion loan.
Loan again? Ah, I am not so sure we should go that route again.*