MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has tasked the economic team to prepare a P27.1-billion spending plan for those affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, which aimed to curb the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a statement that the government will provide targeted and direct programs to guarantee that benefits will go to the workers and other affected sectors.
“We have enough but limited resources, so our job is to make sure that we have sufficient funds for programs mitigating the adverse effects of COVID-19 on our economy,” Dominguez said.
He added that P3.1 billion has been set aside to buy more COVID-19 test kits. The funds came from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and a grant from the Asian Development Bank.
P14 billion also was set aside to boost the tourism industry, P3 billion for scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for displaced workers, P2.8 billion aid for farmers, P2 billion by the Department of Labor and Employment will be allotted to displaced workers, P1.2 billion was also set for Social Security System unemployment benefits, and P1 billion from the Department of Trade and Industry to finance small and medium enterprises affected by COVID-19.
The Government Service Insurance System will also provide a loan program for government workers. Funds from the government-owned and controlled corporations will be also mobilized to airlines and the tourism industry./PN
