By MB Online After recommending earlier to the Executive Department the grant of a one-time ‘Bayanihan’ financial assistance to cities and municipalities, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reiterated its importance for them to respond to the needs of their constituents while the country is addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health emergency and its socioeconomic impacts. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go
(Senator Christopher “Bong” Go official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “Ang gobyernong lokal ang humaharap mismo sa araw-araw na problema ng kanilang mga nasasakupan. Sila ang unang nilalapitan ng mga tao. Tulungan natin silang mabigyan ng dagdag na kapasidad para rumesponde sa pangangailangan ng kanilang komunidad, lalo na po sa malalayong lugar na kailangan ng tulong at hindi agad nabibigyan ng pansin ng national government,” Go explained. (The local government is the one that faces the problems of their jurisdictions every day. People approach them first for help. Let us help them increase their capacity to respond to the needs of their communities, especially those in far-flung areas that need help and are not immediately given attention by the national government.) Citing his experience working in Davao City as President Rodrigo Duterte’s aide when the latter was still the city mayor, Go stressed the important role of local government units to protect the welfare of their communities. “Dati po akong nagtrabaho sa city hall ng Davao City, kaya alam ko kung gaano po kahirap ang kanilang trabaho lalo na sa panahon ng krisis. Mahalaga ang ginagampanan nilang trabaho para masiguro ang kooperasyon ng mga Pilipino sa panahong ito,” Go said. (I used to work in the city hall of Davao City, so I know how hard the local government’s job is, especially during times of crisis. Their work is important to ensure the cooperation of Filipinos during this time.) “Kaya naman dapat lamang nating tulungan ang mga local government units (LGUs) na maalagaan ang mga komunidad nila. Malaking tulong kung mabigyan sila ng dagdag na pondo para mapunan ang lumalaking pangangailangan ng mga tao ngayon.” (That is why we need to help LGUs care for their communities. It would be a big help to them if we give them added funds to fill the gaps in the people’s growing needs right now.) Go recommended that a one-time grant from the national government, equivalent to one month of their respective internal revenue allotments (IRA), will go a long way toward enhancing the capabilities of LGUs to respond to the crisis. “Sa laki ng problemang kinakaharap natin, baka kukulangin ang kasalukuyang pondo ng ating mga LGU. Hindi naman po lahat ng LGUs ay pantay-pantay pagdating sa pondo,” Go explained. (Given the immensity of the problem we are facing right now, the LGUs might run short of funds. Not all the LGUs are equal when it comes to funds.) He explained that the one-time Bayanihan financial assistance for cities and municipalities can be taken from available funds or savings of the national government. Go added that if this proposal is granted, the funds should be used exclusively for projects, programs, and activities concerning the COVID-19 situation, such as the procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline service providers, medicines and vitamins, hospital equipment and supplies, disinfectants and related equipment, relief goods for low-income and vulnerable households, and tents for temporary shelter of the homeless, among others. He also clarified that the grant should be on top of other assistance that national government agencies are already providing to LGUs. Go explained that having forced their constituents to stay at home, LGUs are compelled to distribute relief goods and maintain peace and order while waiting for additional government interventions from the national government agencies. “Magagamit ito para hindi magutom at magkagulo ang mga tao. Kung walang nagugutom, mas magiging cooperative ang mga Pilipino sa gobyerno. Malaking tulong po ito upang masiguro ang kapayapaan at kaaayusan,” he said. (These funds can be used so that the people will not go hungry and riot. If no one is hungry, Filipinos will be more cooperative toward the government. This will be a big help to ensure peace and order.) Go also explained that while the national government is taking charge in this time of crisis, LGUs must take responsibility as well in addressing the immediate needs of their constituents. “Now, more than ever, we, as elected officials, must do everything we can to be of service to the people,” he said. Go also reminded LGUs to make sure that the assistance reaches those who need aid the most, particularly the poorest of the poor, vulnerable sectors, and displaced workers. He added that politics should not be a factor in providing such assistance. “Pakiusap ko lang, huwag na pong haluan ng pulitika ang pagtulong. Hindi po iyan nakakatulong sa sitwasyon natin ngayon. Huwag na natin pahirapan pa ang mga tao, tumulong nalang tayo na pabilisin ang pagbigay ng tulong sa kanila,” Go said. (I humbly request, let’s not mix politics with the assistance. That won’t help, given the situation we’re in. Let’s not make it difficult for the people, let’s just help to make the release of aid to them go faster.) As chairperson of the Senate committee on health and as a member of the joint oversight committee that oversees the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Go has emphasized that the law has already given the government the necessary authority and flexibility to act immediately to address the present crisis. He reminded government officials to make sure that available funds are used properly and are maximized to provide immediate help to Filipinos who need government attention the most. “Mahirap maging mahirap lalo na sa panahon ngayon na walang trabaho dahil sa enhanced community quarantine, kaya dapat nating bilisan ang ating aksyon para maibigay na sa taumbayan, lalo na sa mahihirap, ang kaukulang tulong para sa kanila,” Go said. (It’s difficult to be poor, especially during this time that there’s no work because of the enhanced community quarantine, so let’s move faster to give to the people, especially the poor, the assistance that is due them.)