DBM recommended to Duterte to give assistance 'in kind' amid stricter COVID-19 protocols —Bong Go

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the provision of assistance "in-kind" to households or individuals affected by the new restrictions implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, Senator Bong Go said Monday.

At the Laging Handa press briefing, Go said the assistance to be given is a response to the call of some sectors for a new social amelioration program following the reimplementation of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.

"Rekomendasyon ng DBM, based sa kanilang napag-usapan sa meeting nila, ay assistance to be given in kind," he said, explaining this could be in the form of food supplies.

(The DBM's recommendation, based on their discussion, is that the assistance to be given is in kind.)

"Importante dito, habang kinukulong natin ang ating mga kababayan ay dapat walang magutom, meron silang makain sa kanilang hapagkainan dahil pinilit natin silang manatili sa kanilang mga bahay. Siguraduhin nating meron tayong maibigay na tulong sa kanila," he added.

(What's important here is that no one gets hungry, that they may be able to serve food on their table because we forced them to stay in their homes. Let's ensure that we will give them assistance.)

According to Go, the DBM gave two options to the President for the distribution of the assistance—per family or household, or per individual.

The assistance may also be coursed either through the local government units or the Department of Social Welfare and Development, he added.

Go also said the funding could be sourced from the remaining P23 billion identified by the Bureau of Treasury.

He said the BTr earlier certified P155.96 billion to be used for the government's COVID-19 response measures, of which P122 billion have already been utilized. 

Of the remaining P33 billion, P10 billion is allocated for the implementation of the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery Act. 

Go, in his privilege speech last week, said he has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte as well as to some Cabinet officials for assistance to poor Filipinos amid the new restrictions.

"Hanapan natin ng paraan na mabigyan ng dagdag na ayuda ang lahat ng ating mga kababayang nangangailangan. Hindi lang po sana dito sa NCR o sa katabing mga probinsya lamang. Buong Pilipinas po sana," he said.

(Let's find a way to provide these additional assistance to all our fellow Filipinos needing help. This should not be in NCR or the nearby province alone. This should be nationwide as much as possible.) —KG, GMA News