Go touts one-time financial assistance to provinces
Published Apr 9, 2020 12:00 am
By Mario Casayuran
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed on April 9 that a one-time financial assistance be granted to provincial local government units (PLGUs) for them to weather the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go
(Office of Senator Bong Go / MANILA BULLETIN) Go made the appeal after the national government had announced that it would grant a one-time ‘Bayanihan’ financial assistance to cities and municipalities equivalent to their one-month Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). He recommended that the amount could be equivalent to half of a province’s one-month IRA to capacitate them further in responding more effectively to the increasing needs of their residents amid the COVID-19 health emergency. “PLGUs play a crucial role in implementing the measures imposed by the national government to control the spread of the virus. It would be beneficial to the people if PLGUs are also given additional funding to better respond to the needs of their constituents,” he said. More importantly, Go said that PLGUs ensure the readiness of their respective provincial hospitals to handle the COVID-19 health emergency. “Marami sa mga patients natin ay sa provincial hospitals po unang dinadala. It is the PLGUs that pay for the operations of these hospitals,’’ he explained. (Many patients are taken to provincial hospitals.) Go’s recommendation to release a one-time ‘Bayanihan’ financial assistance to cities and municipalities was approved. The grant amounts to each city's or municipality’s one-month IRA. PLGUs are not entitled to the recently approved measure to avoid redundancy since they share the same constituents with municipalities and cities under their jurisdictions. Go reasoned out that “even an amount equivalent to half of a PLGU’s one-month IRA” could go a long way in enhancing the capabilities of provinces to respond to the crisis, especially in equipping their provincial hospitals amid the growing number of patients in their localities. “Huwag na nating hayaan na kumalat pa ang virus. Ihanda na natin ang mga probinsya kahit sa pinaka-malalayong mga lugar. I-equip na natin ang kanilang mga ospital. Dagdagan na rin natin ang mga testing centers and quarantine facilities,” he explained. (Let us not allow the virus to spread. Let us equip even far-away provinces. Let us increase testing centers and quarantine facilities.) In a letter sent by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government units, through their National President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, the group appeals for a similar grant for PLGUs as to what was recently approved for cities and municipalities. The letter further explained that provincial governments, as the highest form of government in the sub-national level, play a vital role in the COVID-19 situation as managers of the health care provider networks, according to the Universal Health Care Law. Go explained that, aside from equipping provincial hospitals, the additional funds, if granted, can also be used by PLGUs to identify and ensure that isolation units in their areas are fully equipped; distribute relief goods and other basic necessities on top of what the national government is providing; secure borders through checkpoints with equipped uniformed personnel; provide transportation and other needs to front liners and health workers; guarantee unimpeded movement of goods and commodities; ensure that the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act Act” and all executive issuances related to COVID-19 are strictly implemented; and perform other functions strictly related to the COVID-19 situation. As a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee overseeing the implementation of the ‘’Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,’’ Go reminded LGUs that if their appeal for additional funding is granted, they should utilize the funds properly based on the intended purpose and in a manner that upholds transparency and accountability. “Sa panahong ito, konsensya niyo na lamang ang tututok sa inyo. Siguraduhin natin na magamit ang pondo ng tama, walang masayang, at maramdaman ng mga tao kahit sa malalayong lugar ang tulong mula sa gobyerno,” Go said. (Your conscience will guide you during these critical times. Use the funds properly, no wastage, and they should be felt by our countrymen, particularly those In far-flung areas.) “Gamitin lang nang mabuti ang pondo pangtulong sa mga tao. Importante ang tiyan ng bawat Pilipino, dapat walang magutom. Importante na malampasan natin ito ng sama-sama, walang pulitika, at walang pinipili ang tinutulungan,” he added. (Use these funds wisely. Filipinos should not go hungry. It is important that we overcome this crisis without politicizing it and help should not be selective.)
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go(Office of Senator Bong Go / MANILA BULLETIN) Go made the appeal after the national government had announced that it would grant a one-time ‘Bayanihan’ financial assistance to cities and municipalities equivalent to their one-month Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). He recommended that the amount could be equivalent to half of a province’s one-month IRA to capacitate them further in responding more effectively to the increasing needs of their residents amid the COVID-19 health emergency. “PLGUs play a crucial role in implementing the measures imposed by the national government to control the spread of the virus. It would be beneficial to the people if PLGUs are also given additional funding to better respond to the needs of their constituents,” he said. More importantly, Go said that PLGUs ensure the readiness of their respective provincial hospitals to handle the COVID-19 health emergency. “Marami sa mga patients natin ay sa provincial hospitals po unang dinadala. It is the PLGUs that pay for the operations of these hospitals,’’ he explained. (Many patients are taken to provincial hospitals.) Go’s recommendation to release a one-time ‘Bayanihan’ financial assistance to cities and municipalities was approved. The grant amounts to each city's or municipality’s one-month IRA. PLGUs are not entitled to the recently approved measure to avoid redundancy since they share the same constituents with municipalities and cities under their jurisdictions. Go reasoned out that “even an amount equivalent to half of a PLGU’s one-month IRA” could go a long way in enhancing the capabilities of provinces to respond to the crisis, especially in equipping their provincial hospitals amid the growing number of patients in their localities. “Huwag na nating hayaan na kumalat pa ang virus. Ihanda na natin ang mga probinsya kahit sa pinaka-malalayong mga lugar. I-equip na natin ang kanilang mga ospital. Dagdagan na rin natin ang mga testing centers and quarantine facilities,” he explained. (Let us not allow the virus to spread. Let us equip even far-away provinces. Let us increase testing centers and quarantine facilities.) In a letter sent by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government units, through their National President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, the group appeals for a similar grant for PLGUs as to what was recently approved for cities and municipalities. The letter further explained that provincial governments, as the highest form of government in the sub-national level, play a vital role in the COVID-19 situation as managers of the health care provider networks, according to the Universal Health Care Law. Go explained that, aside from equipping provincial hospitals, the additional funds, if granted, can also be used by PLGUs to identify and ensure that isolation units in their areas are fully equipped; distribute relief goods and other basic necessities on top of what the national government is providing; secure borders through checkpoints with equipped uniformed personnel; provide transportation and other needs to front liners and health workers; guarantee unimpeded movement of goods and commodities; ensure that the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act Act” and all executive issuances related to COVID-19 are strictly implemented; and perform other functions strictly related to the COVID-19 situation. As a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee overseeing the implementation of the ‘’Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,’’ Go reminded LGUs that if their appeal for additional funding is granted, they should utilize the funds properly based on the intended purpose and in a manner that upholds transparency and accountability. “Sa panahong ito, konsensya niyo na lamang ang tututok sa inyo. Siguraduhin natin na magamit ang pondo ng tama, walang masayang, at maramdaman ng mga tao kahit sa malalayong lugar ang tulong mula sa gobyerno,” Go said. (Your conscience will guide you during these critical times. Use the funds properly, no wastage, and they should be felt by our countrymen, particularly those In far-flung areas.) “Gamitin lang nang mabuti ang pondo pangtulong sa mga tao. Importante ang tiyan ng bawat Pilipino, dapat walang magutom. Importante na malampasan natin ito ng sama-sama, walang pulitika, at walang pinipili ang tinutulungan,” he added. (Use these funds wisely. Filipinos should not go hungry. It is important that we overcome this crisis without politicizing it and help should not be selective.)