Teka-teka sa ayuda: Zarate hits delay in release of ECQ aid

By Billy Begas

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Sunday hit the delayed release of the P1,000 financial or in kind assistance to those affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

“Ano ba naman ito? Mag-e-ECQ ng bigla-bigla kasama ng pagsasara ng mga empresa at kawalan ng trabaho at pagkain ng karamihan, tapos ang bagal naman ng ayuda,” said Zarate.

Interior Undersecretary Bernardo Florece said the Bureau of Treasury will release the assistance to the concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) starting Monday.

“Ang hirap ng ganitong sitwasyon sa mga mahihirap pinigilan ka ng magtrabaho tapos di ka naman agad tinutulungan. Bahala ka sa buhay mo kumbaga,” added Zarate.

Bayan Muna also conducted a P1,000 challenge in Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on Sunday to prove that the P1,000 or a maximum of P4,000 per family is not enough for a week-long lockdown.

Bayan Muna member Thata Alindogan was able to buy 5 kilo rice (P200), a liter of cooking oil (P60), a dozen of egg (P86), chicken (P320), vegetables (P114), banana (P40), bagoong alamang (P55), 1/4 kilo of galunggong (P40) salt and pepper (P20) and coffee (P39) for P974.

“Hindi na nakabili ng baboy dahil P320/kg, kulang na rin ang sukli sa pamasahe,” said Alindogan.

She said the P1,000 is only enough for three days for a family of four.

Bayan Muna is pushing for a P10,000 financial assistance per family.

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