Not all Filipinos are set to receive cash assistance under the proposed Bayanihan 3 Act, Senator Win Gatchalian bared Monday, April 6.

Gatchalian, chairman of Senate Energy Committee, said the government is allotting at least P98 billion to P406 billion for the measure, which the Senate proposed to help Filipinos mostly affected by the economic cost of rising fuel prices.

However, the government will only "pick" those who will be qualified beneficiaries, who will mainly come from the vulnerable sector, he said.

"Let's say, farmers, fisher folks, yung tinatawag natin bottom 30 percent, 'yung pinaka-mahirap nating kababayan (those who belong to the poorest sector) and transportation," Gatchalian said.

Depending on their income class, qualified beneficiaries will expect to receive something between "P1,500 to P3,000-P4,000," according to him.

Senator Loren Legarda filed Bayanihan Power to the People Act—or the Bayanihan 3 Law—which seeks to establish a decisive government framework in addressing the impacts of the global oil crisis on Filipino households and the national economy.

Legarda said that while Executive Order (EO) No. 110 declared a national energy emergency and outlined measures on conservation, anti-hoarding, and agency coordination, it fell short of providing concrete relief to Filipinos. 

According to Gatchalian, the proposed measure has "three components."

One is determination of the source of funds.

"So kagaya nung COVID, inallow ang executive gamitin 'yung savings para i-reallocate sa iba-ibang programa (Just like during the COVID, we allowed the executive branch to reallocate our country's savings for other programs)," he said.

Another component is that the measure will "place pump priming," which means, "if we get to the point of stagflation, or the economic growth goes down, we have to have prepared funds for the pump priming of our economy."

Last component is giving subsidies or assistance to those beneficiaries.

"Mayroon rin kaming iniisip doon baka pwede tayong magbigay ng mga relief. For example, sa SSS, sa GSIS, sa mga government financial institutions na magkaroon muna ng moratorium sa mga pagbabayad. So yun yung mga iniisip namin. Yung components nitong Bayanihan II (We’re also considering providing some relief there. For example, through Social Security System,  Government Service Insurance System, and other government financial institutions—perhaps we can implement a moratorium on payments. Those are the things we’re looking into. These are the components of Bayanihan II)," he added.