Romualdez: House will not tolerate delay in release of Bayanihan 2 cash aid fund

The House of Representatives will ratify on Monday the P165-billion Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill with provisions that would allow the chamber to scrutinize the strict implementation of programs related to Covid-19 response and emergency subsidy to cash-strapped individuals.

“We are set to ratify the Bayanihan 2 bill when we resume session tomorrow. But this time, we made sure that certain provisions are set in place for a strict implementation of the law,” said House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

“From Day One of the implementation of law, the House of Representatives will closely monitor how government agencies disburse the budget allocated to them. Delays in disbursing funds to the needy are no longer acceptable,” the Leyte lawmaker said.

The bill, once signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, provides an emergency subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 to affected low-income households in areas under granular lockdown and to households with recently returned Overseas Filipino Workers.

The amount will be computed based on prevailing regional minimum wage rates.

This time, however, Congress mandated that the “vetting and validation of beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), and the related liquidation report thereto shall be simplified to expedite the distribution of the subsidy.”

Romualdez also noted that the law now mandates all government agencies concerned to submit to Congress a definitive and actual list of SAP beneficiaries.

“This will allow Congress to exercise its oversight function more efficiently in monitoring how these funds are disbursed to the beneficiaries. We do not want repeat of Bayanihan 1 where absence of database resulted to confusion in distribution of funds,” the House leader explained.

The P5000 to P8,000 subsidy will also cover unemployment or involuntary separation assistance for displaced workers or employees due to Covid-19 including probationary, project, seasonal, contractual and casual employees.

Other major items included in the P160 billion Bangon Fund of Bayanihan 2 include:

* P39.47 billion for capital infusion to government banks

* P24 billion to boost agriculture and provide assistance to farmers and fishermen

* P13.5 billion for benefits and hiring of more healthcare workers

* P13 billiion for cash for work program

* P9.5 billion for assistance to public utility drivers and other programs of DOTR.

* P6 billion for “individuals in crisis” and other programs of DSWD programs

* P5 billion for hiring of contract tracers

* P4.5 billion for construction of temporary medical isolation and quarantine facilities, and for expansion of government hospital capacity

* P4.5 billion for isolation facilities, hotel accomodation, food and transportation of COVID19 patients

* P4 billion for tourism industry

* P4 billion for DepEd’s implementation of digital learning

* P3 billion for procurement of personal protective equipment, face masks, face shields

* P3 billion for development of smart campuses

* P2 billion subsidy for LGUs paying interest on loans secured from government banks

* P1.5 billion assistance to local government units

* P1 billion for TESDA scholarships

* P820 million for assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers

* P600 million in subsidies, allowance for students severely affected by the pandemic

* P300 million in subsidies, allowance for teachers, part time faculty, other employees of state universities and colleges

* and P180 million in allowances for national athletes and coaches

“We have all learned our lessons in the implementation of Bayanihan Act. We now have to ensure that the money goes where they matter the most. No duplication of beneficiaries, but no one left behind,” Romualdez said.

The post Romualdez: House will not tolerate delay in release of Bayanihan 2 cash aid fund first appeared on Latest Philippine politics news today.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)