By Ben Rosario
As Cabinet secretaries decide to forgo a month’s pay to be donated to the anti-COVID-19 cause, nearly 200 congressmen have likewise agreed to give up their next month's salary for the same purpose.Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House of Representatives is expected to raise P50 million by May, with the majority, if not all, 306 of its members expected to pitch in.
“Almost 200 will donate our full suweldo, at ang aming initial target is P50 million o mahigit sa P40 million (full salary, and our initial target is P50 million or over P40 million),” Cayetano said in a virtual press conference.
On Saturday morning, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, spokesman of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), said Cabinet members have agreed to give up a month’s salary to donate to the programs that would help government quell the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cayetano said that aside from their own contributions, they will also solicit the help of friends to raise another P50 million if the COVID-19 fight extends until June.
The amount raised by lawmakers will be allocated for supplies for frontliners, who have risked their personal health in order to help those afflicted with coronavirus disease.
According to Cayetano, the money will be spent on needs that have yet to be addressed and are urgently needed.
The House leader said congressmen have not only given up their salaries to donate to the anti-coronavirus cause. Many of them have used their personal money to help their constituents.