Senator Bong Go thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for heeding his earlier appeal to provide additional assistance to poor Filipinos through an expanded Supplemental Amelioration Program as this is a welcomed step towards aiding our needy kababayans.
This comes after the reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region Plus bubble due to the rapidly rising cases of new COVID-19 infections in the area.
Go thanked Duterte for responding affirmatively to his request to help the poor tide over the new lockdown, saying, “Nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang pagtugon sa ating panawagan na magbigay ng agarang ayuda para sa mga mahihirap na apektado ng ECQ sa NCR, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite at Laguna.”
“Nagpapasalamat rin ako kila Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez at Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, sa kanilang patuloy na pagmamalasakit at palaging pagdinig sa hinaing ng taumbayan,” the legislator said.
The lawmaker stressed that Duterte’s decision is a testament to the President’s compassion and willingness to listen to the concerns of his people.
“Dahil dito, higit kumulang 22.9 milyong mahihirap na katao na bumubuo ng 80 porsyento ng populasyon ng NCR at mga probinsya ng Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite at Laguna na naka-ECQ ngayon ang mabibigyan ng ayuda,” the senator said.
“22.9 million low income individuals in NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal are set to benefit from the newly approved amelioration assistance.”
During the President’s Talk to the People address recently, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said that an estimated 22.9 million low income individuals in NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal are set to benefit from the newly approved amelioration assistance.
Each individual belonging to the 80% low-income population of the affected area will be provided with P1,000 worth of assistance, with a maximum of P4,000 per family.
The P22.9-billion funding requirement is chargeable against the available funds under Republic Act No. 11494, also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.
“Habang limitado ang galaw ng mga tao para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng sakit, limitado rin ang kita at pagkain ng kanilang pamilya. Huwag na nating hayaan na madagdagan pa ang bilang ng nagugutom,” he said.
“Implementing agencies should fast-track the distribution of the assistance with the help of LGUs.”
After the approval of the President, Go urged implementing agencies to fast-track the distribution of the assistance with the help of local government units to ensure that those who need government aid the most benefit from this program.
“Aprubado na ito ng Pangulo kung kaya’t dapat na bilisan na natin ang pagbigay ng ayuda para makarating agad ang tulong ng gobyerno sa mga dapat makatanggap nito,” he said.
“Sa tulong din ng mga LGUs, dapat mailatag na ang proseso kung paano ito maipapamahagi sa bawat kwalipikadong indibidwal sa paraang maayos, mabilis, at walang bahid ng pulitika o korapsyon,” Go added.
He also asked the public to continue to cooperate with authorities, remain vigilant, and strictly follow health protocols to prevent the further spread of the virus.
“Sa mga kapwa kong Pilipino, konting tiis lang po. Ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para mapagaan ang hirap na pinapasan ng buong sambayanan,” Go urged.
“Magbayanihan po tayo para malampasan ang mga pagsubok na ito,” he added.
In his appeal for assistance for poor Filipinos amid the stricter quarantine restrictions in critical areas particularly in NCR and neighboring provinces, Go asked the government to also address hunger and poverty while Filipinos are forced to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Gawin natin ang lahat sa abot ng ating makakaya na makapag-abot ng tulong sa lahat ng nangangailangan para walang magutom. Habang pinipilit natin silang manatili sa kanilang mga pamamahay, siguraduhin din dapat natin na mayroong laman ang kanilang tiyan at may tulong tayong maiaabot sa kanila,” he said.
“Kung anumang kabutihan na pwede natin gawin ay gawin na natin ngayon. Huwag po natin ipagkait sa mga kababayan natin ang anumang tulong na pwede natin maibigay sa kanila. Umaksyon na tayo agad,” Go concluded.