Sen. Panfilo Lacson is open to a possible supplemental budget for the government’s efforts against COVID-19, to allow at least five million more families to receive amelioration funds.
Lacson said the Bayanihan Act, which both houses of Congress passed in a special session last March, covers only 18 million families, while President Rodrigo Duterte wants the amelioration expanded to cover 23 million families.
“Pwedeng supplemental budget nga yan kasi covered ng Bayanihan Act, 18 million families. So kung magdadagdag ng 5 million families, tama yan. Hingi sila ng panibagong authority by way of a supplemental budget kasi di hagip ng Bayanihan Act ang 5 million families,” he said in an interview on DZBB and GMA News TV.
“Hindi nabilang yan doon. Kung yan ang intention tama lang na humingi sila ng supplemental budget sa Kongreso,” he added.
Lacson said the amelioration is meant to help families in the informal sector, including those who lost their livelihood due to the COVID-triggered lockdowns.
Others who are qualified to receive aid include daily wage earners and micro, small and medium enterprises.
“Alam natin nawalan sila ng kita dahil pang-arawan ang kanilang sweldo. So yan ang target na mabigyan at ang target 24M families ang mahahagip noon 18M. Sabi ni Pangulong Duterte, ie-expand nila para ma-cover hanggang 23M families,” Lacson said.
Lacson also said there are enough funds to cover the amelioration, based on updated data from the Department of Budget and Management.
He said the DBM has some P77.1 billion in unused funds from the 2019 budget, as well as P204 billion in unobligated funds as of April 2020.
“So pag sinama mo ang P77B at ang P204B, nasa mga P281B. Yan ang pwedeng available as of April 30, 2020,”he said.
Lacson lauded the DBM for being transparent and speedy in providing the updated information.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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