Rep. Quimbo to econ managers: 'Take a second look' at Bayanihan 3

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo on Monday urged economic managers to "objectively assess" the measure proposing for a third Bayanihan law before saying that it could not be funded.

"Take a second look. Sana po bago sila magsabi na we cannot afford it eh ngayon naman po naging official na talaga dahil noon November, when we filed first tranche ng Bayanihan 3 bills eh hindi pa naman official na ganyan kalaki ang contraction ng ating GDP," Quimbo said in an interview with reporters.

"Pero ngayon it's official 9.5% ang contraction, sana po they take a second look at this Bayanihan 3 and to objectively assess lahat po ng datos na pumapasok, particularly na po job losses, business closures," she added.

Quimbo is hoping that the proposed measure would be certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"That's the fastest way po na ma-deliver po natin itong ayudang pampamilya at pangmanggagawa, pati na rin sa small businesses nang pinakamabilis na panahon," she said.

Along with Quimbo, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has filed another measure proposing for a third Bayanihan law, which outlines P420 billion worth of interventions that aims to help in the country's economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure is called Bayanihan to Rebuild as One bill.

Velasco said the national government's initial capacity to respond to the health crisis was not enough in attaining a genuine economic recovery of the country.

The proposed P420-billion appropriation under Bayanihan 3 is broken down as follows:

• P52 billion for subsidies to small business for wages and other worker-related expenses;
• P100 billion for the capacity-building of businesses in critically impacted sectors;
• P108 billion for additional social amelioration to impacted households through programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
• P70 billion for the provision of assistance and capacity-building to farmers, livestock producers and fishermen;
• P30 billion for the implementation of unemployment assistance and cash-for-work programs under the Department of Labor and Employment;

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• P30 billion for internet allowances to primary, secondary and tertiary students and teachers in public and private educational institutions;
• P5 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the rehabilitation of typhoon-affected areas, including the repair, reconstruction and/or construction of flood control works, roads, bridges, public buildings and other damaged public works, to be distributed proportionately among provinces and cities affected;
• P25 billion to the Department of Health for the procurement of COVID-19 medication and vaccines, and to finance logistics, information awareness campaigns, and other related operational expenses.

According to Quimbo, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA's) disclosure of the full-year gross domestic product (GDP) as well as the latest increase on the prices of pork and poultry products triggered them to file House Bill 8628.

"To address those very important economic concerns, nag-file po si Speaker Velasco ng panibagong version ng Bayanihan 3," she said.

Quimbo also explained that the P108 billion allotted for the additional social amelioration was based on a budget of P1,000 for each Filipino citizen.

"'Yung 108-B is really based on a budget of P1,000 per Filipino, so ganon po, lahat masisiguro na entitled... Siyempre 'yung mayaman na mayaman naman eh iwi-waive naman nila ang kanilang entitlement. But more or less to be sure na inclusive ang pamimigay ng ayuda, yun po ang pag-peg," Quimbo said.

Bayanihan 1 and 2 were passed by Congress in March and September last year, respectively.

Cayetano's proposal

Meanwhile, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano expressed concern that the Bayanihan 3 might not be approved on time to help Filipinos. He said the Executive department and the country's economic managers have concerns and objections on the package, especially regarding its fiscal impact.

"I have always believed that the Filipino family deserves the best and this (Bayanihan 3) is a step in that direction. But the reality is, it might not come soon enough for those who are struggling to make ends meet now," he said in a statement.

Cayetano, a former Speaker, instead urged his colleagues to tackle House Bill 8697, or the Bangon Pamilyang Pilipino Assistance Program,  which aims to provide beneficiaries with P1,500 cash assistance per family member or P10,000 per household, whichever is higher.

"I urge my colleagues to pass that as soon as possible so that we can quell the hunger in the bellies of our countrymen, while we are tackling this bigger financial package," he said.

"This is precisely why we asked that we focus on what is important, #AyudaHindiChacha, so that we can give the best solutions to the problems facing the nation without any distractions."  —KBK, GMA News