Former Vice President and senatorial aspirant Jejomar Binay said on Tuesday, Jan. 25, that working parents who are forced to stay at home to look after their children amid the pandemic should be given additional benefits from the government and the private sector as the country continues to fight the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases.
“With schools closed, many working parents are unable to go to work because they need to look after their children. They should be given government aid and entitled to additional paid leaves. This should apply to private and government employees,” Binay said.
“Mental health break para sa students, ayuda at paid leave para sa parents (Mental health break for students, financial assistance and paid leaves for parents,” he added.
Binay explained that the COVID-19 pandemic is greatly affecting the financial security and well-being of families, as many parents or family members have either lost their jobs or have seen their earnings decline.
“Most families are cutting back on expenses for food, medicine, and essential needs. And not only working class families but also middle-class families,” Binay said.
“Hindi po lahat ng pamilya ay kayang bumili at magpa-deliver ng pagkain at groceries online. Hindi po lahat ng pamilya ay may savings na malaki. Kailangan nila ng tulong mula sa gobyerno hangga’t hindi pa nakakabangon ang ekonomiya (Not all families can purchase and deliver food and groceries online. Not all families have large savings. They need help from the government especially now that the economy has not yet recovered)," he added.
The former vice president previously urged the national government to give additional benefits to family members who are taking care for their elderly parents.
Binay said that some of those who are taking care of their loved ones who are COVID-19 positive are forced to resign from their jobs to take care of their relatives full-time.
Most of them are also spending their own money in buying the medical needs of their patients, tirelessly lining up in drugstores, and bringing their family to the hospital.
“Mahirap ang dinadaanan nila lalo na’t may pandemya, pero ginagawa nila ito dahil sa pagmamahal sa kanilang mga magulang (They are all going through a lot during this time of pandemic, but they are doing all of these out of love for their parents),” Binay said.
He explained that family caregivers should be given additional paid leaves if they are employed, free medicine and hospital care for their loved ones, or reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Those who are unemployed, meanwhile, should be given financial and other forms of assistance.