MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the government has set aside P200 billion for those affected by the enhanced community quarantine observed to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.
In an address to the nation on late Monday night, President Duterte said that low-income households will benefit from the biggest social assistance program in the history of the country.
“We have allotted P200 billion for low-income households who are badly affected by the current crisis. Sila ang nasa informal sector and those who live day to day on subsistence wages or no work no pay,” Duterte said.
Duterte was referring to a provision under the Bayanihan to Heal as One law (Republic Act 11469) that allows government to realign P275 billion from the national budget in an effort to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the country.
Of this amount, around P200 billion is expected to be utilized for the emergency subsidy plan for the 18 million low-income households who will be receiving financial assistance between P5,000 and P8,000 in a span of two months.
“The amount will be distributed to those in the informal sectors living on day-to-day subsistence or “no-work, no pay” arrangements,” the Chief Executive said.
Despite these available funds, President Duterte said that he is also counting on middle- and upper-class Filipinos to support the less privileged during the health crisis.
“To those who have more in life, I implore you to share in the cost of taking share of the less fortunate and keeping our society intact. They have also contributed to our prosperity in one way or the other so let us support them,” he said.
The government will also provide a recovery package – especially to micro, small, and medium enterprises – to help deal with the economic effects of this pandemic. He said his economic team is currently drafting the guideline, Duterte said.
There were also quick response measures for farmers and fisherfolk to help them during the crisis while at the same time ensuring food productivity, availability, and sufficiency during the period of the pandemic.
There will also be unhampered flow of cargo to maintain a steady supply of food, goods and other essential supplies and items.A price freeze on commodities is already in effect as well as measures to curtail hoarding and profiteering.
“Uulitin ko – hindi ito panahon para kumita. Hindi ito panahon ng pagsasamantala,” the President said./PN
