The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should address any leakages in the government’s distribution of Covid-19-related cash assistance programs instead of discontinuing it, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Thursday, Sept. 1.
Go said he disagrees with the proposal to discontinue the provision of COVID-related financial, saying the government should maintain it until such time the Philippines has fully recovered froom the economic impact of the pandemic.
“If there are alleged leakages in the provision of aid, then plug the leaks instead of turning it off especially at a time when there are still people who have nowhere else to go but to seek help from the government especially the hopeless and the helpless,” Go said in a statement.
“Until we have fully recovered as one nation, we should ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” urged the senator.
The senator further urged the government to prioritize providing assistance to impoverished Filipinos and ensure that they do not suffer from hunger amid the public health emergency.
“Unahin natin ang mga mahihirap. Una sa lahat, prayoridad natin ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa kanila. Siguraduhin nating walang magugutom (Let’s prioritize the poor. First of all, our priority is giving them financial assistance. Let’s make sure no one is going to go hungry),” urged Go.
Go made the call following Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s proposal that all COVID-related financial support be discontinued given the country's constrained fiscal capacity.
Diokno had also stressed that there is no longer a need to provide additional assistance to low-income Filipino households because the country has “fully recovered.”
However, Go argued that as long as funds can be sourced, providing assistance to Filipinos during this time must be prioritized.
“Basta may pagkukuhanang pondo, prayoridad natin dapat na magbigay ng ayuda sa nangangailangan (As long as there are available funds, let’s make distributing financial assistance to those in need a priority),” he remarked.
“Mandato ‘yan ng buong gobyerno, kasama na ang Kongreso, na siguruhing merong sapat na pag-alalay, pagtulong at pagmamalasakit sa mga mamamayan hanggang tuluyang makabangon ang lahat (That’s the government’s mandate, including Congress, to make sure there is sufficient support to help citizens until such time everyone can recove),” Go stressed.